The piano repertory is filled with classic and pieces but the aim is to play the music always but, in this case, the music is not just the notes and symbols but it goes beyond expectation. The position and the mentality of a pianist is the relationship given between the physical structure of the keys and also on the characteristic features of the elements of the music which needs a lot of emphasis with respect to tonality. The implementation of a good technique is very important in the early stages of the training of a pianist because there is a high risk of a very bad habit setting in. There is an argument that people who are musically gurus can play the piano and the piano is only for those who have normal hand but the fact is, if you are capable of tapping you fingers, or wave the hands or further still make a fist, then you have enough strength to start your journey on the piano.
Piano technique becomes the tendency to get the right tones at the exact time out of the piano, the ability to realize it music and how well we relate to it. It is also the ability to interpret what we want to say and to speak through music. Alan Belkin said, technique to playing the instrument is but a means to an end. Without an instrument, a task cannot be completed. What do I mean by this? A teacher needs teaching instruments to be able to teach well to their students. Medical students and practitioners also need instruments to allow them practice their medicine and we musicians also need our musical instruments to enable us make music that could be enjoyed and appreciated.
Whenever we play any notes in succession, we express a musical thought. Whether that thought is a coherent musical idea depends on the notes themselves and on their delivery. This depends on the technique we employ. So then what is technique?
Technique is a necessary concomitant of art, for art without technique, is limited in its communicative power at best, and empty at worst. The piano is the world’s most popular instrument. It’s incredibly dynamic, features an astounding range, and is quite an easy instrument to learn. Practicing correct piano technique is paramount for any musician wanting to master this dynamic instrument. We must understand how techniques work either than the we will be leading ourselves to incorrect practice methods. The fascinating thing is that piano skills can be learned in a short period of time if the correct learning procedure are applied.
There are few tips you follow in order to develop a good playing technique. The first one is that, the no finger must fall upon its key be thrown on it, but only needs to be placed upon it with a certain amount of consciousness and motion command. The next one is the impulse given to the keys, or the quantity of pressure, must be maintained in equal strength, and that in such a manner that the finger is not raised perpendicularly from the key, but that it glides off the forepart of the key, by gradually drawing back the tip of the finger towards the palm of the hand. And the third one is when there is a transition from one key to another, this gliding off causes the quantity of force or pressure with which the first tone has been kept up to be transferred with the greatest rapidity to the next finger, so that the two tones are neither disjoined from each other nor blended together. The touch is, therefore neither too long nor too short, but just what it ought to be. Correct technique in piano does not only helps pianists play their instruments correctly but also helps shove off health problems caused by practicing and playing. Bad piano technique can cause health problems such as hand and wrist pain, numbness and weakness in fingers and arms, poor blood circulation, cold hands, and sore shoulders and/or neck. A smart technique and approach to playing the piano won’t leave your arms, shoulders, neck, and hands in pain. Playing the piano in a smart way can keep your body healthy and able to play for decades.
What should I do basically to improve my playing technique?
There are a number of exercises that are essential to good technique. Once you master these exercises, you’ll be able to play almost any passage from a physical standpoint. You can look at a section of music and be confidant that you’ll be able to learn it quickly. For each exercise, there is a specific way to practice it.
Practice all the exercises with correct form every time. Be disciplined to do them right. Here are the main exercises you’re going to want to master to improve your playing technique:
1.Scales
Scales are very good but most people do not like them or even want to learn the but they are really the most critical exercise to develop technique. All classical pieces and if not all about 95% of them are full of scales. Most melodies are fragments of scales put together. By knowing your scales well, you have learned all these parts of a melody without even practicing them directly! Scales are also important to orient your brain within a key. It can be difficult to remember what sharps and flats are in a key signature, but if you play scales enough, you’ll not only learn the key signatures, but you’ll internalize them and have a deeper understanding of them. Make it your aim to practice your scales through four octaves in all the keys at least 5mins daily.
2. Arpeggios
The second most common lines are arpeggiated lines. Just like scales, if you know your arpeggios well, you’ll already know all these little fragments before you even practice the piece. Arpeggios also develop a more controlled, flexible wrist. The transition from the 3rd or 4th finger to the thumb forces you to turn and direct your wrist fluidly and accurately. This wrist flexibility will translate to a number of other different areas. Make it your aim to practice your arpeggios through four octaves in all the keys at least 5mins daily
3. Chords
Chords are all over the place, and being able to play chords quickly in all inversions is a huge advantage to learning pieces faster. It’ll also help you improvise because your fingers will be able to “snap” to the chord shapes without you thinking about it and you can concentrate on the right hand. Practicing chords also helps tone production. Start out with the basic duet and traids as a beginner, and gradually move to full chords as you progress. When you do this exercise, you can really focus on getting that warm, round tone and develop a feel for that nice. Aim to get each inversion each major and minor chord sounding warm and full.
4. Broken Chords
Broken chords are found all the time in various left-hand accompaniment patterns. Practicing broken chords also develops the fundamental over-under wrist motion you want to develop for anything you play on piano. Aim to play broken chords through three octaves in all of the keys.
5.Octave Scales
Octaves make musical pieces very heavy and powerful. You can take any single note melody line, play it in octaves, and it sounds way more exciting and way more powerful. You can also put it in the left-hand bass notes to get that deep, commanding sound. Octaves also help you develop a super relaxed wrist, which is critical to everything you play. Aim in playing octave scales through three octaves in all of the keys.
Doing these basic exercises will take you closer to developing your piano playing technique.
References:
Belkin, A. (2009) General principles of piano technique
Fink, S. (1992) Mastering Piano Techniques. Amadeus Press
Fraser, A. (2003) The craft of piano playing. Scarecrow press.