I cannot stress enough how important it is to play "from the soul" and "feel the music with every note," two things I often say to my more advanced students during lessons. I try to emphasize how every note they play should be played from the heart. If you put your emotion into whatever piece you play, it will come out the way you want it.
My student, Alyssa, is becoming quite good with that. She is learning it's important to not just "play" the notes, but to play every note with meaning. For example, she is currently learning the finale piece from Swan Lake. For those of you who aren't familiar, it's a beautiful and powerful piece that is played as a swan is dying and then eventually dead at the end. We are working on playing every note as if it's the most fragile, delicate, beautiful, note in the world, as the swan is depicted. It's a very sad piece, so she emphasizes that feeling by using slow vibrato and playing at a lento (slow) speed. I always say "every note counts" and in this piece, I really stress that. It's almost like she can feel the swan's suffering in the playing.
On the other hand, not every piece is so dramatic and sad. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum there's fiddle music, for example. Fiddle music should be played with the same amount of feeling, but in most cases with this type of music, it's a happy and light-hearted feeling. It would not sound right to be played in the same style as Swan Lake, of course. But again, the player should emphasize to feel the music: to play it in a happy tone, the way they are feeling when they play, to bring out the mood and deliver that same feeling to the audience.
Keep in mind, a piece does not have to be advanced in order to apply this very important element in your playing. Again, let's reference Twinkle Twinkle: what are you aiming for when you play? To put a baby to sleep? If so, then play it slowly, beautifully, and perhaps get softer as you progress into the piece. Are you playing it in a "fancy" rhythm? In that case, have fun with it when you play! Do not play it too seriously!
My personal favorite types of pieces have a range of emotional segments. I love the ones that start of slow and sappy sounding, and then almost instantly change. It's almost like a story with "ups and downs." Think about it: most successful stories are dramatic. They have low and high points which lead to the climax, and eventually the ending. It's the same thing with music. You need to tell your own story with your playing.
Reflect back on your relationship with music: do you ever turn to music that is parallel with the emotion you're feeling at a given time? Personally, if I'm sad, I'll listen to sad music so it relates to how I'm feeling. If I'm excited, I'll listen to upbeat music. If I'm nervous before taking an exam, for example, I'll listen to motivational music.
For some people, playing with "feeling" comes more naturally than others. However, it is possible for everyone to acquire. A good practicing method is to apply your playing with your current mood. Are you angry? Are you sad? Are you happy? Take it out on your instrument! You'll be surprised what a difference it will make! Try it!
Composers do their best to help you deliver that feeling with crescendos, staccatos, tempos, ritardandos, etc. They will often even write style tips on the top of the piece. (Ex: Energico, which means to play with energy, or ruhig, which means to play peacefully.) However, these are only guides. It's up to you to bring in out.
In Celine Dion's case, her voice is her instrument. Look at how much heart and soul she pours into this song, and the effect it has on her audience.
I intend to further talk about how to "make a piece yours" in a future blog posting sometime soon, but for now, just remember: Music is emotion. What type of emotion do you want to bring out and deliver to the audience with the next piece you play? Feel the music. "Play con anima" (Play with feeling in musical terminology.) That is what will separate you from your fellow musicians.
^^Is this a beautiful picture or what?!)
Until next time,
~Regina
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