lesson with David Swan - Music

in one concentrated hour - one can accomplish much
Really enjoy those moments - very communicative - the brain is exercising - He is teaching

~*

He said, "the best pianist (like violinist) doesn't necessarily shoot at the right notes, but they....adapt the best; therefore, our hands shouldn't be like moulded clay, rather, like mud that can be moulded, that could flexibly respond to the music passage, and do / play what's articulated (the blue print)" -- Adaptation vs. flexibility (my attitude to-be when I'm on the mission trip for there could be many changes, and I have to adapt to a new culture, people and environment.)

He said, "it's a mental thing, if you belief you can do the leap (jumping between big chords on the keyboard, we call those snaps - on Hindemith Sonata No. 2) you can do it." -- Belief, are you talking about believing? A test to my faith - there are always so much uncertainties during preparation, but things seems they will always sort out - thanks Lord! `

"slowly you can do that (we are talking about playing different rhythmic pattern between the hands) - practice independence of hands - I have to practice clapping, and do it so naturally until I don't have to think about it anymore.

...But you don't push yourself like you will achieve it overnight, it comes with time" - David can tell that I am quite impatient with myself, but it is so true, nothing comes overnight - my attitude, my behaviour, my habits, I can always fall back to my old habits unless I practice them over and over again.

"time will fix everything" - He sees that I can do it, even though, I still have a couple of pieces that are far from ready

"simplify your fingerings - play as well as you're doing now, lively, but not like hyper-active (haha!) reduce some fingers movement. As long as you hit the tone, you don't have to try as hard!" =) relax - don't push yourself

"the best sound comes when you play them at ease, there shouldn't be any hard attempt. =) If you try hard enough, the sound may come out fairly good; but playing in an awkward posture, the sound produced will not be at its best. When you play comfortably and the sound comes out nicely, it's the best."

"my performance (piano) can make my arguments valid, or fall apart."

I'm so glad to have David as my teacher ... He's always at ease, always humourous. Even though I sort of try to put his words in quotation, but he says it in a much nicer, and more eloquent way, which I cannot regurgitate.

Trust me, having lesson with him is much much more fun than how I write it in this tiny paragraph. In his mannerism, he shows me what is maturity (as a person, as a performer). Because of how he Really is as a person, he makes his message of being a Christian very convincing. I think he has the Word penetrate all through him ^_^


Working on:

Bach - WTC Prelude and Fugue in C# major (Status: 45%)
Haydn - Sonata in E-flat major (50%)
Chopin - Fantasy Impromptu (35%)
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in D major (50%)
Hindemith - Sonata No. 2 (20%)
Chopin - Etude Op. 10 No. 3 (50%)

When I am back for the summer, if I do not have these pieces memorized, I will not be able to get any further than where I am at now! Cya again, in September!