All of a sudden I seem to be really hearing everything I play, every slurred note, every uneven chord - you get the picture. I'm thinking this may be a very powerful thing - it's easy to correct what you can hear - -

That's great!!! I think awareness is VERY important.

I had a similar think happen with my rhythm exercises. I am more aware now when I am off instead of being completely oblivious.

Congratulations! And all done by ear! After all, who ever said you played the piano with your fingers?

That's great! Go, go, go Frycek!


M.

Good for you Frycek! I'm trying to be a better listener myself.

Often I catch myself playing something mechanically and I'll stop and tell myself to "play it like you hear it in your head when you're not around a piano..".

When it does click and my playing benefits from this "better hearing", I find this often translates into a more judicious use of the pedal, or maybe it's the other way around?

I played the first 2 part invention today. I've avoided it because 30 years ago as a useless youth I learnt it by playing it over, and over, and over again. Today was such pleasure - I was listening instead.

Congratulations! That's an incredible sentiment to have while playing!

Occasionally I will hear a professional baseball or tennis player say, "I was just seeing the ball much more clearly today." Maybe that's how it is for us when we have a good piano playing day.

I am going to work on this as well. Thanks for the idea, Frycek. I usually can only hear myself clearly if I record myself. Actually playing the notes really interferes with how my ears work!

Nancy

Oh, that is defintely a breakthrough! I have trouble hearing what I'm actually playing, instead of hearing it as I want it to sound. When all I can hear is the music as I can imagine it in my head, then I miss the mistakes I'm playing, and they go uncorrected.

So Frycek, the real question is, how did you reach this breakthrough? What was the "click" that made the difference? And can the rest of us take a hint from you and get a shortcut to that click?