Strategic Approaches Enhancing the Quality of Piano Performance through Compositions

Abstract

Becoming mastery in piano playing requires many significant skills; playing techniques, effective note reading, structural analysis, understanding in music, interpretation, and music memorization. Effective note reading skill is very important since it makes a pianist understand the whole concept of the music he/she is studying. And eventually, it lays reliable foundation for a successful performance. The author believes that note reading can be guided by using suitable approaches. With the right approach, a pianist will be able to change the way he visualizes music and focuses on the "right" notes. In this article, the author proposes 7 substantial approaches including looking for a melodic sequence, a scalewise passage, and interval. Twenty exercises are composed with controlled elements to enhance the note reading skill. Applications of the ideas on standard repertoire are also demonstrated with relevant musical excerpts.