This past Sunday we capped our weekend in Kansas City by attending a piano masterclass given by Stansilav Ioudenitch. I have been to several piano masterclasses with Sibylle and I always learn something even though I am not a pianist. Yesterday’s class was no exception. Here are my notes.
Play slower – let the audience hear all the notes. Be aware of the accompaniment
Use shoulder weight to increase volume
Extend phrases across bar / measure
Rebound off notes – feel the weight moving through the note
Playing with more expression doesn’t mean more attack - it means more lyrical
Don’t rush through passages, even if they are at a fast(er) tempo
Resolve technical problems through expression
Be aware of conversation between solo and accompaniment, whether it is just a piano or an orchestra
Orchestra accompaniment is like the Titanic – big and powerful – and unable to react to the soloist. Piano accompaniment can and will react to solo
Performer’s thoughts/emotion will come through in the music. Change your emotion to color the music differently
Interplay between solo and orchestra or second piano is key
When developing phrasing think about how a singer would perform the melody
Technical passages should be played virtuosically yes, but also musically
Be relaxed – flexible – no extra weight or tension in body
Make short notes longer to increase expression
Body motion – elegant body motion – will make elegant music