Yesterday I was playing 4 hand piano with a friend, and found a short passage rhythmically difficult. We went over it several times, but I could not get it. Finally I somehow found the correct rhythm and we moved on to the next section, which went very well. We were sailing through, enjoying Mozart’s inventiveness, and kept playing without any troubles.
Interestingly, I had no trouble at all with the repeat of the difficult part, I just sailed through that part as well. I know that if I had thought about the hard part coming up, I would have stumbled!!! Since I was in the “Zone”, I was not “trying” to think about playing, and was able to play it perfectly.
So often, our playing is sabotaged by us trying too hard with our brains. I know that my best playing occurs when I feel very relaxed and enjoying the sounds, I will play a whole piece without “thinking” about playing. It is very much like driving along the highway - in a heightened state of concentration, but relaxed and enjoying the scenery.
Playing piano is so complex that we get worried about some aspect of our playing, but maybe concentrating on our mental state should be our goal. Before I start playing, I like to do some stretching exercises and then play a piece through, with the metronome, 4 or 5 times. I find that after a short time I am in the “Zone” - relaxed, centered, enjoying. When I have attained this, I am in my most productive state.

playing piano

This is one of my warm-up pieces. I put the metronome on to an easy quarter note beat and play it through 4 or 5 times. I switch the metronome to one to a bar once I feel settled. This piece has so many places where you can stumble. lose your place, or lose the pulse!
Here I am, this is after the warm up!

After getting my shoulders into a big knot, I have been experimenting to find out what the causes were. Obviously, it is easy to say, “OK, Stop Holding the Shoulders Up While Playing”… I have taught many adults to play the piano, and remember how difficult it is to change habits of posture!!
I started with the bench height. Being long in the torso, I could see that my elbows were high, forcing some tension in the wrists. Sitting on a chair is a huge improvement, now my forearms are parallel to the floor.
Here is a short video demonstrating help with sitting posture:

J.S.Bach Two Part Inventions piano solo (or harpsichord)

I have been playing the Bach 2 part Inventions, #4 and #8, using them as warm ups. I play them through with the metronome, and repeat at least 5 times before stopping and stretching. If the tempo is comfortable, the repetitions help to concentrate on getting centered.
It helps to exaggerate the big arm down motion, so that the whole arm weight drops into the keys. I keep checking this to make sure I don’t get a knotted shoulder!

I realized that i needed to start back with some basics. It is so much fun to be playing for just my own enjoyment, there is no pressure to learn some new inane pop hit to keep the customers satisfied!
I went and bought a new metronome. I have one packed away that I have owned since childhood, but I remember that it sped up and slowed down. Also, not sure which box in which closet it is packed in!

I started playing Bach’s 2 Part Invention #8, with the metronome set at 54 to a quarter note. (There were a few spots I had to go over to get the notes.)

It was very satisfying. After 5 times through the piece, I was feeling much more in control. The repetition with the steady pulse from the metronome was very centering. The scrambled, frantic energy is gone.

After more than 5 years without a piano, I now have a brand new Steigerman Piano! I am surprised at how I can still play, but I am not making a good sound and my hands feel stiff.
I played through some Chopin Waltzes, the C# Minor, Opus 64 No. 2 and the D flat “Minute” Waltz. I can play all the notes, but my playing feels scrambled and uneven.
I don’t feel in control of my playing, and don’t like the sound I am making. The sound is not full, but harsh and brittle.

I remember that when I used to play, I felt in control, centered, and there was no struggle to get the notes.
I will think of how to find that.

play piano