I love teenagers. They are full of unmatched energy and passion and zest for life. If I could have even a portion of the energy they have, well, I can only imagine what great things I’d be able to accomplish.
My 15-year-old son is a bundle of passion. I mean, look at the energy in this photo! I love being around him and being invigorated by his drive and forward momentum.
I try to live my life with this kind of vigor in everything I do. I’m not always very successful. But I feel so strongly about it, I have even named my piano studio and blog to reflect this desire. (Okay, stop. I KNOW that fortissimo does NOT mean passionate, or vigorous, or energetic, or anything close to that. But to me, the phrase “play fortissimo” definitely connotes a quality to the music that comes from the heart. That’s passion. And it has to do with music, with dancing, with relationships, with work, with everything in life. So just work with me here.) Whether or not I can successfully infuse such excitement into other aspects of my life, I definitely aim to help my students find excitement for piano and music.
Here are some tips to playing music with passion:
HAVE COURAGE. Yes, it takes courage to play with passion. You have to tap into your deepest feelings and share them through your music. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I don’t even want to know for myself what my deepest feelings are, let alone share them with others!
VISUALIZE. What does this particular piece of music look like to you? Can you imagine the pictures it would draw if it could be seen? What images does it bring to mind? One of my favorite resources for helping to visualize music is smalin. Another favorite is, of course, Peter and the Wolf. There are many other resources to introduce the visualization of music!
TECHNIQUE. It’s true: you won’t be as successful in playing passionately if you don’t have solid technical skills. It is imperative to understand the structure of the music and to master the skills required in order to truly play with energy and emotion.
PLAY WITH FEELING FROM THE BEGINNING. But while you’re mastering the technique, don’t set aside the feeling. You can work on feeling and skills at the same time! Making music is joyful. Let it come from your heart, even when you’re repeating the same passage over and over in practice. Spend equal time focusing on the technique and playing just to make music.
MAKE IT A STORY. Peter and the Wolf and many other works of music already have a story written into them. But you can write your own story for other pieces! Some might be easier than others. For example, Fur Elise. Because the title suggests that Beethoven wrote this for a woman (or girl) named Elise, you can create a story without even knowing the real history behind the song. Who might Elise have been? Why did Beethoven feel the need to write a song for her? Other pieces may be more abstract. Create a character or setting in your mind and let the sound of the music dictate the events of the story.
LISTEN TO RECORDINGS. Carefully listen to a recorded version of the piece you’re playing. Close your eyes and imagine the music flowing into and through you. How does it make you feel? Can you recreate that sound? Don’t be afraid to copy what the masters do as you work to find your own artistry. Along the same lines, attend live concerts to better connect with the passion and energy of music.
PLAY WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY. When I was about 16, my piano teacher must have been frustrated with the lack of passion in my music. During my lesson one day, she had me run as fast as I could to the corner of her street and back, then sit down and play the piece again. I was not happy with her. I mean, I was REALLY not happy with her. After I finished playing, she said cheerfully, “That’s the best you’ve ever played that!” That made me even madder. I didn’t want her to feel vindicated for making me RUN during a music lesson. But the result was not forgotten. I learned to play from my heart by playing when I was angry. I have since learned to play when I’m frustrated, when I’m confused, when I’m happy, and when I’m sad or depressed. Besides the music being cathartic, playing in any of these moods will almost guarantee a greater degree of passion in your music.
JOURNAL. Researchers are finding more and more evidence that journaling can be one of the most effective ways to tap into our emotions. Why not extend it to our music? Take the time to journal about how a particular piece (or music in general, or even the act of playing) makes you feel. Be specific and descriptive, using all your senses. Once you understand how you are feeling, it will be so much easier to infuse your music with that emotion.
ENSEMBLE PLAYING. The synergy of playing together with other musicians will greatly increase your ability to play with passion! Ensemble playing (duets, duos, quartets, or accompanying) is one of my favorite parts of being a pianist.
EXERCISE. You heard what happened when I played after running. That was mostly because I was angry, but there is definitely something to be said for moving your body. Have you ever thought to mentally play your music while running or hiking or taking a nature walk? What better way to open your heart to the beauty of music?
Whatever you do, don’t lose the enjoyment of music in the nitty gritty details of practice and work. Music is an enormous joy to participate in, to create, and to hear. Do what it takes to get in touch with the zest for life you had when you were a teenager (and hopefully still have!)
0 Comments