Piano Video Lesson: A Journey Through Piano Technique – Finding Your Own Path

Hi, I'm Robert Estrin. Welcome to LivingPianos.com.

Today I want to take you on a journey through the world of piano playing, a journey that we all must take as pianists, whether we're beginners, advanced performers, or somewhere in between.

Throughout my years as both a performer and a teacher, I discovered something profound. The way we approach the piano is incredibly personal. There are many schools of thought when it comes to technique, and in the end every pianist has to find their own way that feels genuine and physically natural.

Over the years I've explored techniques from all over the world.

My approach isn't tied to any single tradition. I draw from the rich weighty sound of the Russian school, the precision and clarity of the German school, and the expressive versatility of the American school. In recent times I've also studied more contemporary approaches like the Taubman approach and Abbey Whiteside's principles. The beauty of this is that each of these methods has something unique to offer, and by integrating them I've developed a practical, adaptable way of playing that works in our modern world of piano performance.

One of the most critical aspects of my teaching is the focus on natural movement. Playing the piano should never feel forced or tense.

I emphasize the importance of ergonomics, minimizing tension, letting your hands, arms, and body move naturally. This isn't just about preventing injury, it's about making your playing efficient and expressive. I've found that techniques like using relaxed arm weight, natural finger positioning, and coordinated arm and wrist movements produce a much richer tone than root finger strength ever could.

Technique alone isn't enough. What's most important is connecting with the music emotionally. That's what Abbey Whiteside talks about, and it's something I hold dearly in my teaching.

Technical mastery should serve one purpose, to express the emotions within the music. When you understand the structure of a piece and feel its emotional content, your technical decisions start to make sense on their own.

My teaching is rooted in practicality. I work with students at all levels, from those tackling their first pieces to those performing advanced repertoire. One thing I always aim to do is break down complex challenges, fingering, pedaling, voicing, phrasing, into simple, clear, concise statements that can be applied right away. It's all about making the difficult seem easy, so you can focus on the music itself.

Of course, reaching a wide audience is easier than ever with modern technology. I've embraced video lessons, online tutorials, and multimedia content to make these concepts accessible to anyone, anywhere. LivingPiano .com has become a resource not just for students, but for teachers as well, offering insights into everything from technical fundamentals to advanced repertoire interpretation.

Here's the big takeaway. No one method is right for everyone. Each pianist must find their own way of playing the piano, a way that feels genuine and physically natural. You'll borrow ideas from different traditions, but ultimately, your style will be a reflection of who you are as a musician. Thank you for joining me on this journey today. I hope you found some useful insights for your own playing. As always, I'm Robert Estrin, a pianist and educator here at LivingPianos .com. My approach combines elements from various schools of piano technique to create a practical, adaptable method that aligns with modern pedagogical practices. Until next time, keep playing, keep exploring, and find what works best for you. Let me know your thoughts in the comments here at LivingPianos .com and on YouTube. Again, I'm Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com, your online piano store. Thanks so much for joining me, and I look forward to seeing you next time.

Find the original source of this video at this link: https://livingpianos.com/a-journey-through-piano-technique-finding-your-own-path/

Automatic video-to-text transcription by DaDaScribe.com

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