Developing a Brilliant Piano Technique - The Holistic Professional Approach

Video highlights:
00:00. Played Introduction.
00:35. On our menu today: it’s time for a change of perspective!; debunking myths and stereotypes.
02:52. This video is inspired from your questions. Avoiding the unilateral ‘technique-only’ approach.
03:18. The ergonomic technical skills you will develop as a member of PCA.
04:20. Understanding the BIGGER PICTURE. The 7 main pillars of piano playing. Learning to see the whole, not just the parts.
05:31. An example of the modern ‘unilateral’ approach and its consequences. The main causes of speed walls (and other piano problems).
07:06. What is TECHNIQUE? Why do you play piano? What determines the value of a piece?
08:20. Why, What and How – the three main questions we need to answer in order to become good pianists.
08:56. Making a comparison between speaking and musical performance.
10:53. The main purpose of good technique: giving us the freedom to convey the message of the piece. Brilliant piano skills can only be developed by connecting our physical movements (technique) with the musical ideas we wish to express.
11:52. An example of how pre-hearing and mental anticipation (having the mind and hearing guide your fingers) can help you overcome technical barriers.
12:52. The physical part of playing – a means to an end. Developing our technique while bringing out the expressive tasks of the piece.
13:36. The benefits of a holistic approach to piano development. Improving our technical skills naturally, simultaneously with all the other pillars.
13:57. What about muscle memory? Is it important? How do we develop it?
14:42. If technique is not the most important thing in piano playing, WHY do we need to practice scales?
15:39. With your mind & hearing in charge, you will never play in a mechanical, percussive manner!
15:59. What is EXPRESSION? Debunking the most common myths about expression.
18:27. Bringing out the expressive tasks encoded in the piece by using means of expression. Identifying the main ones.
19:40. Example: how to bring out a lyrical, peaceful character in Liszt’s Consolation No. 3.
21:03. Character - means of expression - mental/aural/technical methods for bringing them out.
21:33. The expressive intention – the foundation of our art. Playing without awareness, in a purely ‘intuitive’ manner, is not expression!
22:11. Debunking another myth: is expression a ‘talent‘? How does talent fit into this picture?
22:56. If your main goal is to ‘improve your technique’ – your entire perspective on piano playing needs to change!
23:12. Conclusion. The importance of understanding the bigger picture for making informed decisions.

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[DissonantSynth]

I literally started crying because of this teacher's beautiful and healthy perspective on music and piano playing. Many piano teachers can learn from this video, not only students. This was a wonderful and inspiring video. Thank you very much!

Edit: some of the negative comments left on this video are absurd... The people who need to be quiet and listen, are always the loudest ones.

[JS]

No magical formulas, no mechanical tricks, no shortcuts, etc...

Your honesty right out of the gate earned all of my respect young lady.

It is refreshing to find a Music Teacher on YouTube who is extremely honest about what it takes to become fluent at piano.

I started 10 months ago at advanced age and I can only attest to the fact that this instrument will take dedication and perseverance on a daily basis for the remaining years of my life. (I wish I were young again so I’d have much more time as I absolutely LOVE piano despite how lousy I am.)

Thank You as always for sharing your vast array of knowledge, advice, and expertise as you so kindly do, it is sincerely appreciated.
👏🙂🎹

[jeanmedar]

I've been playing piano for five year but I felt so stuck with my advance. This is what I was searching for believing I was needed for a better technique. Thank you so much, I hope I'll be able to continue my journey in music with this mind set.

[allegroinquieto]

Hi Ilinca, I'm working on chopin's ocean right now and I was really starting to feel a lack of motivation, but after watching your video I'm feeling much better and am doing my best to keep your advice on my mind while practicing, so thank you very much for the inspiration.

[jayPT]

A must watch for striving pianist, especially thosevl being self-taught like me.

[elspethsilverstar]

Wow. Wow. All these years I haven’t made progress and injured myself and felt like my playing sounded like doo-doo, there was a reason. I’m going to listen to this again, and you can get I’m going to tune into your other videos and check out your website.

[rgm]

First time I see an "holistic" method of learning piano. Thanks!

[marksmith]

Almost 50 years of struggling with my own intuitions about learning how to express music properly, and in one video, it all made more sense than all my searching elsewhere, and trying to figure it out for myself.  Really helpful.  A good place to be after all this time.  Thank you so much.

[Kevin-eqnu]

She inherited the classical Russian art tradition of deep and thorough understanding of the subject and expressing it with utmost clarity. No wonder Russian arts are so attractive.

[richrobert]

Hi, Thank you for all of your videos. I recently began your Piano Academy Course after on and off lessons in my childhood and adult life. Never have I enjoyed piano as much as I do now. After only a week, I feel I already have my tuition's worth of instruction and increase in knowledge. Your discussion on holistic body/wrist movement is a treasure onto itself. I created a diary of my experiences on the Piano World forum which others have said they are finding worthwhile to follow. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge in such a caring way. BTW, I wanted to mention that all of the fundamental skills you bring into your piano instruction are precisely the same as I have learned to bring into my Tai Chi practice: relaxation, imagination, expression via gesture, holistic November's, etc.

[YourOnlineMusicTeacher]

This is a gem! Exactly what is supposed to go into developing a professional pianist. Although, if you explain your little students everything you do to them, their mind would blow up. I try to keep it moving so that this process is unconscious to them. Sometimes, I just explain to them what they can now do and how we got there.

[arthouston]

You really have been given many gifts. Not only your playing, but I have often wished I could speak a difficult (to me) foreign language...such as Russian...as well as you are able to speak English. I am an adult beginner at the piano, but I am trying to absorb as many tips as I can now, in my early playing, in order to avoid having problems later. Thank you!

[ujflebc]

You are THE BEST. These ideas are so well-put together and easy to understand. And you play like a literal angel. Liked and subscribed❤

[advogado]

Right video at exactly the right time!

[radupintea]

Charming approach! Clear, accurate, hearwarming, human...and so fresh. Thank you, Ilinca for sharing it with your virtual (or viral) students.

[susannafederzoni]

Hi Ilinca, i'm not a young student, so my time to study is not a lot...i study privatly piano since 8 years an my progress are
coming slowly.. i appreciate your video so mach and this video is really intersisting!! thank you so much.

[beefling]

This is both inspiring, motivational, and informative. This video has so much value thank you so much I had to take notes. And now I got good vocabulary from this video if I want to go even more in depth of what your talking about.

[FerranLopezCarrasquerPianist]

Excellent video, valuable content!! thanks for sharing it, Illinka!

[Leandrewzr]

This was such a good video. Well spoken, well edited, well organized, a really good, valuable and well taught lesson.
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and for sharing it in such an effective manner.

[DavidStoryMusician]

Thank you for reminding us that artistry originates in the mind. And the need for an artistic impression/vision of the piece before we start to "practice". And, knowledge of which movements will help us realise this vision. And of course so much more, which you articulate so well in the video. Well done.