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Post by princessmoose on Dec 21, 2006 12:47:05 GMT
Can it be taught and if so, how? I have quite a few pupils now around the grade 5 level and they usually play all the notes, rhythms correct etc but there's no expression, they don't perform it. I need and want to get them to be able to perform, and play with expression. My head of music told 2 of them the other day to perform this Christmas piece and they fell about laughing, because they think that it means moving around like they're on a major high and anyway they think it's amusing . Erm help?
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Post by Dulciana on Dec 21, 2006 13:27:01 GMT
Teenagers seem to have a bit of a conscientious objection to being expressive; they seem to think it's uncool or something! I just try to tell them that we only want the expression to come out of the instrument, and that they don't have to go mad with the body movements. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!
Hey - I've just used spell-check for the first time, and I actually spelt conscientiously correctly!
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Post by possom on Dec 21, 2006 13:57:18 GMT
Hey - I've just used spell-check for the first time, and I actually spelt conscientiously correctly! Ssshhh, you're not meant to tell anyone! I'm very lucky with my teenagers, have about 4/5 on piano and they all play expressively I guess that if they can see how others play and respect the people who they watch then they will want to do the same.
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Post by anacrusis on Dec 21, 2006 14:22:43 GMT
Difficult one, this, cos I can't think for the life of me how I actually play expressively when I do. Could you think of some sort of imagery to go with what they're playing, like a huge expanse of sea or rolling hills, or the wind howling round trees, or kids running round a playground? Might be embarrassing for them too, but I know that I'll be shaping phrases by thinking of going up to somewhere, or sinking back, or bouncing along, and the music just does the rest.
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Dec 21, 2006 16:30:58 GMT
I play to mine a lot, saying thing like, "Try it like this", "Listen to these two versions; which do you like the most?". It is sometimes worth reminding them that playing expressively is a very simple matter; we are either getting louder or softer. Ok, so there is lots of room for subtlety, and articulation comes into the mix, but rock-bottom basic musical interpretation is uncomplicated. There are kids to whom musical expression is impossible. For them, playing is a physical pleasure rather than an artistic endeavour, so I am merciful with these. With those I know to be capable of some musical feeling, I can be ruthless when this is missing through lack of effort. I will play the piece back to them as badly as they have just played it to me. Turning to a near-comatose child, I will then say, "Yes, deadly dull wasn't it? That is exactly what you have just inflicted on me, so play it again and play it properly this time." This usually costs me an extra choc, mind. ;D
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Post by princessmoose on Dec 21, 2006 16:35:02 GMT
Lol I wouldn't be that harsh. They already think I'm harsh by inflicting scales on them .
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Post by Steve Hopwood on Dec 21, 2006 16:37:02 GMT
Lol I wouldn't be that harsh. They already think I'm harsh by inflicting scales on them . Sadist
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Post by princessmoose on Dec 21, 2006 16:38:08 GMT
I know, it's terrible.
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Post by Benj on Dec 21, 2006 17:17:12 GMT
Perhaps you could play along with them and hope that they mimic you. My sax teacher has always accompanied every piece that I play and at first I followed her piano playing and mimiced her expression, but then after a while I began to add the expression on my own. Get them comfortable with adding expression by showing them that you are comfortable in doing so.
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Post by AnotherPianist on Dec 21, 2006 18:04:15 GMT
I think that the key to expression, as many have suggested, is listening to music. One thing, as Steve says, is to play for them so they can listen. What really allows one to develop expression oneself is to listen to a wide range of music and gain an understanding of style. It's very hard to play expressively if one has never felt the expression from someone else's playing. However, getting the average teenager to be interested in listening to a wide range of music is a very difficult task in itself (and no offence meant to teenagers here I know some do, but in general it's difficult). At a basic level copying what you do, and direct instructions of how to play certain bits will help to make pieces sound more expressive without needing a great deal of comprehension of style. For those who are interested and want to go futher I think listening to a lot of music is the key .
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Post by chocolatedog on Dec 21, 2006 19:46:47 GMT
Some of it is understanding eg on the piano, understanding high and low points of phrases and also LH chord progressions, to be able to understand where the bass line is leading, appoggiaturas, dissonances resolving etc......these are all concepts that can be taught to help a pupil understand how the music itself can suggest subtle nuances.....
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