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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
This one takes the cake (and makes me almost pee my pants every time I watch it). O Holy Night
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Not sure about his hair(don't care), but Kissin isn't "acting". He's far too serious a musician to do that. Kissin almost always moves his body in a circle while playing(as do some other terrific pianists)...I never gave it a second thought. His facial expressions(nothing much in the particular video you gave)are really only noticable in close up camera views at an angle not really seen by audience members who see him mostly in profile.
....There's nothing that could convince me that such drama is authentic to a 10-year-old boy.....
You have to take into account that this is no ordinary 10-year-old boy (or whatever age he is). It seems that you're not.
You're right! But I was one once ... and no ordinary one either.
You were extra ordinary? =p
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
This is one of the few times where I've actually thought the "acting" was appropriate and almost added something to the music. It's like he's having a conversation with the music.
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Kissin isn't "acting". He's far too serious a musician to do that. Kissin almost always moves his body in a circle while playing(as do some other terrific pianists)...I never gave it a second thought. His facial expressions(nothing much in the particular video you gave)are really only noticable in close up camera views at an angle not really seen by audience members who see him mostly in profile.
I would call attention to 0:09, 1:17, and 4:36 of the Kissin video. I think the term for these are microexpressions.
Kissin isn't "acting". He's far too serious a musician to do that. Kissin almost always moves his body in a circle while playing(as do some other terrific pianists)...I never gave it a second thought. His facial expressions(nothing much in the particular video you gave)are really only noticable in close up camera views at an angle not really seen by audience members who see him mostly in profile.
I would call attention to 0:09, 1:17, and 4:36 of the Kissin video. I think the term for these are microexpressions.
The Wki article I just read said microexpresions were involuntary and difficult to fake. So wouldn't that support what I said about Kissin not "acting"?
Bisotti actually has a lot of neat stuff on his channel, and I like quite a few of his recordings, too!
"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt)
I really can't see the slightest example of over the top emoting from #1. He reminds me a little of Haochen Zhang, recent Van Cliburn winner, in terms of his degree of emoting. I also don't think that many young pianists are coached to do this or that it's faux expressiveness. I think more often than not young players are coached to reduce their expressive movements.
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. There's nothing that could convince me that such drama is authentic to a 10-year-old boy (never mind intrinsic to the music).
I remember there's a photo of a young Lang Lang (5 or 6 ?) playing piano in his autobiography, and he already had that signature facial expression. I don't think his parents or teacher coached him to do that, but he did mention that when he played, he always had mental pictures of cartoon figures in action.
I really can't see the slightest example of over the top emoting from #1. He reminds me a little of Haochen Zhang, recent Van Cliburn winner, in terms of his degree of emoting. I also don't think that many young pianists are coached to do this or that it's faux expressiveness. I think more often than not young players are coached to reduce their expressive movements.
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. There's nothing that could convince me that such drama is authentic to a 10-year-old boy (never mind intrinsic to the music).
I remember there's a photo of a young Lang Lang (5 or 6 ?) playing piano in his autobiography, and he already had that signature facial expression. I don't think his parents or teacher coached him to do that, but he did mention that when he played, he always had mental pictures of cartoon figures in action.
I doubt he was coached but I believe these near toddlers are imitating someone they saw. I can't believe kids are naturally making "orgasm faces" before they even reach puberty. Put me firmly in the camp of "faux expressiveness" in these cases.
The Wki article I just read said microexpresions were involuntary and difficult to fake. So wouldn't that support what I said about Kissin not "acting"?
You are missunderstanding what microexpressions are. Microexpressions reflect the persons actual emotion. So, for instance, imagine a guilty person who is on trial and lying. Lets assume that person is trying to appear to the Jury as empathetic, but in actual fact they are indifferent. The microexpression will reveal the indifference, and it is this indifference within the microexpression that is hard to fake.
I don't know what Kissin's microexpressions reveal. In fact, I don't even know if those moments can properly be considered a microexpression. It just seemed to me that if he truly was in whatever profound emotional state his inordinate movements are supposed to signify, those moments would never have occurred. Hope that clears things up.
"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt)
kissin didnt get mentioned? 
