Principles

"Music is not too indefinite for words but too definite for words" (Hans Keller)

The guiding principle in my teaching of piano performance is to empower the student to create meaningful, authentic and insightful interpretations through musicological knowledge, technical refinement and highly developed musicianship. All of these attributes are indispensable in the communication of the inner meaning and spirit of the music. Perhaps above all, imagination, that is to say, the ability to imagine the ultimate interpretation is of greatest importance, for only then is it possible to work toward a specific result.

It is to be understood that the instrument is simply the vehicle through which one is able to express the essence of a work. Even though the piano demands a long period of study in the search for its mastery, this mastery is only musically justified when used to reach a higher level of artistic communication. It must, therefore, be put to the service of a greater goal, that of the realization of a work of art in sound which is the only medium at the musician's disposal. Pianists cannot use words or visual aids to convey the substance of their musical message. An acute sense of rhythm, the projection of the understanding of the content and spirit of a work, the integrity of the architectural and structural aspects, the conveyance of style and theoretical implications critically depend on the production of appropriate sound. This, in turn, requires:

• the technical ability to speak with a particular "tone of voice" applicable to the work at hand,
• the musical discernment to hear imbalances in both rhythm and melody, and to correct them,
• the ability to play with a variety of colour and texture appropriate to the work, and
• the ability to realize the character of the work in sound (eg. agitato as opposed to teneramente).

Finally, I believe that in order to achieve an outstanding performance, the pianist must transcend the physical requirements of the instrument, and through knowledge and creativity attain the realm of pure music-making. The mandate of the teacher is to guide the student through the various stages of development, always with a focus on the ultimate goal of transcendence of the physical. It then follows that the mastery of pianistic technique must be developed to the point where it is immediately accessible to the pianist with a wide range of colour, touch, power and sensitivity to the finest of details, thus enabling the creation of the true character of a work.

This is of course, a most idealistic goal, but if we do not aspire to the very elusive achievement that has been present in all memorable performances of the great artists throughout history, the great art of music will inevitably be reduced to the banal and mediocre.

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Updated 30 July 2023.