Intuitive nature of taubman concepts

[kashi]

I made a very interesting discovery teaching a young student (7 years old I think) this week.  Every note she played was loud, percussive and metallic.  I asked her how she thought she would be able to make the piano sound softer.  She replied “make the key go down slower”.  It seems some of the Taubman concepts (or indeed ‘good’ piano technique in general) are common sense enough for a child to intuitively arrive at the same conclusion.

Your thoughts...?

[tenuto]

Thank you for your interesting experience. I have often asked my piano students the same question. Unfortunately they were not as bright as your little student. Most of my beginnners used to think you have to hit harder for a loud sound and simply be gentle for a softer sound. I usually have to explain the physics of the piano to them in terms of softer equals slower, louder equals faster. I usually demonstrate to them that I can be very close to the keys and still create a forte and a piano. They are usually very surprised.

[Terry]

That's GREAT that your student intuited that!  I wonder if she'll be a physicist later in life.  I too usually have to talk my students through this concept.

Speaking about sound:  last spring, I met a 13-year-old boy who played all of Clementi op. 36 no. 1, aiming about 4 inches below the keybed for each and every note.  For a combination of my own sanity and to reduce his needless struggle with the piano, I started the lesson talking about aiming to the point of sound (aftertouch) and resting on the bottom of the key.

The most alarming period of the lesson was that when I demonstrated the harsh sound produced by aiming below the keybed vs. the nice sound resulting from aiming to the pt. of sound and resting on the keybed, he couldn't hear any difference!!!  So I asked him to keep listening and see if he could start to hear any difference.  No student of any age that I've had before or since needed more than one demonstration of that contrast.  But for him, I had to play the same note the two different ways so many times it was was painful, physically and aurally.  Thinking that at least I could get his playing to feel easier, I showed him how to aim the two different ways -- he wasn't interested in playing efficiently and he still couldn't hear the difference.  Just when I was about to say we should try this again some other day, he suddenly shouted, "I get it!!  When you aim too low it makes a bonk on my eardrum!!!"  *phew!!*  Then he became fascinated with the difference, and started relating to the piano in a more friendly manner.  You should have seen the look on his face when he realized he was playing faster too!  After that, all I needed to say was, "Do you feel a bonk on your eardrum?" and he could change his aim immediately.

I guess this was the opposite of kashi's experience -- it took a lot of persistence -- but I'm glad I stuck it out.  The information is just so good that it's bound to make sense sooner or later.

[kashi]

I should add that 99% of my students are just as frustrating as the ones you have described.  I have this one kid (a complete beginner) who, when asked to sit up straight, invariably hyper extends his back.  I've tried to explain to him that there's a healthy medium in between too straight and slouching.  The message falls on deaf ears.  This is the same kid who insists of having his left arm hold his right elbow while playing.  I think I'm going to recommend another teacher for him; one with ear plugs and bottle of scotch nearby.

[wongk]

I think children, if the minds aren't too corrupted, are capable of learning almost anything intuitively. That's why I have gemetamorphasized (changed)   to child like state. It makes learning easy.