I have a student that is getting ready to play a piece in a talent show. I have been going to her house for lessons. Her show is coming up in about two weeks. Her piece is almost ready, it just needs a bit of polishing. Last week after her lesson, I asked her how she was feeling about everything. “Do you feel prepared?” I asked.
She said that she did feel ready for the show. She said that she was very nervous though. This is understandable. She told me that she practiced her piece on the piano that she will be playing on in the show. “It was so odd, the keys were completely different! It really threw me off.” She proceeded to tell me.
“Amazing”, I thought. As a teacher, I should have seen this coming. It didn’t dawn on me that she has only played on her own piano. It is amazing how a slight difference in the piano that your playing on can change your performance, or how you play. I asked her, ” what did you find to be different about the piano that you will be playing on at the show from your own?” She said that the keys were much more narrow than her piano’s keys.
To her credit, I was very proud to see that if she was able to notice this difference, she had been practicing quite diligently. YET, this practice seemed to be one dimensional by no fault of her own.
I decided to have her practice on my piano this week. It took her a while to get used to it. I think that she understands that it is important to be flexible with your performance now. It really got me thinking, “What a large impact can be made on the musician with something as small as a different set of keys”.
It is SOOOO important to be ready, and comfortable enough to play a piece no matter what piano you are sitting at. She is going to do so great at the show! I just know it!
Have you ever had something small like this effect your performance? Do you know someone who has?
My name is Suzan Pleva. I am an independant piano instructor. I am classically trained. I have played the piano for 17 years. I feel that I have found my “true calling”. I was born with the ability to play by ear. I am very well rounded in every aspect of playing the piano. I feel very passionate about teaching others to become as well rounded in this arena as possible. I really enjoy working with children. I am very patient with helping individuals understand each and every concept of the piano, and music theory that is introduced to them. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/different-pianos-stage-fright-941087.html




















