Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner The Art of Piano - Great Pianists of 20th Century, a DVD

My piano teacher recommended the above DVD. She implied that it is pretty much a staple for anyone seeking to improve their technique by learning from some of the world's great masters. I plan to order it, but also noticed another book entitled "The Art of the Piano: Its Performers, Literature, and Recordings (revised and expanded edition) by David Dubai. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a companion work but it popped us a recommended book for people who bought the DVD. (I know, I'm succumbing to the marketers.) I would be interested in others' comments on the works and/or recommendations on others. Personally, I never thought of watching a DVD to improve my technique but I guess it makes sense. And I already have plenty of books that I still hope to read one day, so while I'm not necessarily looking for more, I guess I want to try to vet the Dubai book before adding yet another book to my library. Thanks.

I believe the author of the book is David Dubal and I have the book. The DVD would be interesting from two aspects--aural and visual. The aural would give you a perspective on the technical and musical abilities of each performer while the visual would allow you to see hand, wrist, arm, and body motion. Of course,that would depend on the angle, close-up, distance, etc. The pianists of the early part of the 20th century would be much more individualistic than those of today which my teacher referred to as stereotypes. Anyway, it will be interesting to read your review of the disc after you've had a chance to review it.

"Personally, I never thought of watching a DVD to improve my technique"

I did.
"Mastering Piano Technique" DVD.
Whilst many of the tips he gives are too "advanced" for me, I was very satisfied as the dvd explains movements of the hands etc. with an immediacy that the book (which I also bought) cannot have. The angles of the camera are chosen in a way to maximise the use for you, it is divided in chapters, the chap is good and communicative, in short a very good product.

This DVD improved a lot my consideration for the medium as a way of learning and I am now waiting for a DVD about music memorisation.

I was going to start a thread about this DVD tonight; if i was here half an hour earlier . . .


I'm hoping to buy the DVD off the internet somewhere, I'll have a look now.


This is a pointless reply really!! I just thought it interesting that there's a thread about the DVD here just as I was going to go order it and post a thread saying I had and asking what to expect or something!

Never ignore your local library. My local library purchased numerous classical DVDs at my recommendation. This one is one in their collection now. Remember to try your local library...

its on youtube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxJGY67iKYs

hopinmad: Patience is indeed the best teacher; your patience paid off!

The Art of Piano DVD also is available from Netflix. It's certainly worth watching, very interesting to see some of the early and mid-20th century masters playing, although at times the sound is slightly off from the fingering.

AndrewG: good point! I do patronize my local library, but DID overlook a search there in this case. I put a reserve on the book but they didn't have the DVD, unfortunately.

-----

Cheeto717: its on youtube.

Wow, that's pretty cool. I had of course heard of youtube before, but had never actually visited the site. Thanks!

youtube turned out to be an amazing resource for finding little gems of really great performances. just give it a try.


example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9MvizSf78

I don't know about your library's policies. My local one would try nationwide to locate a copy, be it a book, tape, CD or DVD, if one is found and that library does lends items out I can expect to have it in several weeks. More often than not my local library purchased a copy of its own collection... In my case the local library is an excellent source!

Im gonna chime in and say get the book by david duval...its an invaluable resource for any pianist, my copy is litterally falling apart from over use.

I like this show. But maybe the featured artists are little too old for me. Maybe they didn't include the living pianists for a purpose, but I would like to see some Zimerman, Argerich, Barenboim etc...

For Zimerman, Argerich, Barenboim the music world is not really short of videos. Many are presently available.