Putting The Emotion Into Music., How do you do it? Options

[Violinia]

Hang on a minute - that quote:

I believe its better to actually feel the emotion/ideas instead of learning the technicalities to play the emotion.

wasn't mine, it was Alias's!

But yes you're right Saxfan, it's all of it.

Violinia

[SaxFan]

Hang on a minute - that quote:

I believe its better to actually feel the emotion/ideas instead of learning the technicalities to play the emotion.

wasn't mine, it was Alias's!

But yes you're right Saxfan, it's all of it.

Violinia

ok, sorry if I am attributing quotes wrongly, I don't always get that technicality right!!

But the whole thing of playing and interpreting is in a sense quite simple, but on the other hand it is horrendously complex!!

[YetAnotherPianist]

ok, sorry if I am attributing quotes wrongly, I don't always get that technicality right - I like cats though!!

It's okay, don't worry about; quoting is somewhat fiddly... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[sarah-flute]

ok, sorry if I am attributing quotes wrongly, I don't always get that technicality right - I like cats though!!

It's okay, don't worry about; quoting is somewhat fiddly... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[nicki_flute]

Today, I was upset in my flute lesson, as my teacher had told me she wouldn't be teaching me as of January. I then played the Bach E major movement 1 flute sonata, which really needs expression, and I played it so much better than how I normally would have been.

Have you tried recording yourself, it might help to listen to how you play, and so how you can improve.

Also, I think musicality comes with time, it won't just happen overnight.

[mysteryd]

This may seem to be question of individuality of a performer, but how does one really put emotion into a piece?

My music teacher tells me i need to put emotion into my playing, that i play like a scientist, never makes a mistake, always technical but no real emotion.

My question is, how do i put emotion into music? My teacher describes it as the extra "Haa" of the piece, but i can't seem to figure out how to really "feel" the music. Technically, i excel in my pieces, but she says i need to work on the interpretation and emotion.

By the way, I play the violin (if this helps to answer.) To any violinists or any other performers:
1) Any recommendations?
2) Would using expressive intonation help in performances?

Many Thanks!

I always find it helpful to sit with my eyes shut when playing on my violin, and then all the concentration compleltely becomes more focused on your ears and arms. And you can just hear the beautiful tone, and i suppose that brings emotion. Just try practising with your eyes shut...

Try playing something such as Schindler's list, because that's an incredibly immense and emotional.

And also, try to vary the speed of your vibrato, and really make your vibrato, so that it suits the music to how YOU want it to sound.

[Violinia]

Try playing something such as Schindler's list, because that's an incredibly immense and emotional.

Funny you should mention Schindlers List. I was asked to play it at the funeral of an old Jewish refugee lady last year. Every time I practised it I'd practically burst into tears so was wondering how I'd get through it at the funeral without falling apart. Come the day and possibly because I'd practised it too much, there was no emotion there at all - I felt completely blank! Aargh! I didn't know which was worse - feeling all that emotion and having tears splash all over the violin etc, or feeling nothing. Something in between would have been nice...

Anyway, at the reception and after rather a lot of champagne (the old lady's request), they asked me to play it again and this time all the emotion was there. Probably didn't play it any differently either time but it felt a lot better inside the second time..

Conclusion - emotions just don't do what you want when you want them to!

Violinia

[Dulciana]

Off on a slight tangent here - I often find that absorbing myself in playing music of a strictly classical nature is a great way to escape from emotions that I'd rather not have.

[Rosemary7391]

Yes - I do that a lot!!

[violinist1005]

This may seem to be question of individuality of a performer, but how does one really put emotion into a piece?

My music teacher tells me i need to put emotion into my playing, that i play like a scientist, never makes a mistake, always technical but no real emotion.

My question is, how do i put emotion into music? My teacher describes it as the extra "Haa" of the piece, but i can't seem to figure out how to really "feel" the music. Technically, i excel in my pieces, but she says i need to work on the interpretation and emotion.

By the way, I play the violin (if this helps to answer.) To any violinists or any other performers:
1) Any recommendations?
2) Would using expressive intonation help in performances?

Many Thanks!

I always find it helpful to sit with my eyes shut when playing on my violin, and then all the concentration compleltely becomes more focused on your ears and arms. And you can just hear the beautiful tone, and i suppose that brings emotion. Just try practising with your eyes shut...

Try playing something such as Schindler's list, because that's an incredibly immense and emotional.

And also, try to vary the speed of your vibrato, and really make your vibrato, so that it suits the music to how YOU want it to sound.

Wow, Schindler's List. Would you believe i have that on my stand now to work on. I saw the video of Perlman playing Schindler's List Theme on YouTube and it was amazing. That's what made me want to learn that piece. But i'm still trying to get the emotion (of course) but it really is a highly emotional piece which i think can help me develop emotional playing.

[Violinia]

Wow, Schindler's List. Would you believe i have that on my stand now to work on. I saw the video of Perlman playing Schindler's List Theme on YouTube and it was amazing. That's what made me want to learn that piece. But i'm still trying to get the emotion (of course) but it really is a highly emotional piece which i think can help me develop emotional playing.

Have you ever heard a piece called 'Meditation' (from Thais) by Massenet? It's a very emotional piece and definitely worth learning if you're OK playing in high postions. You can play some of it in low postions too though without quite the same effect.

Violinia

[violinist1005]

Have you ever heard a piece called 'Meditation' (from Thais) by Massenet? It's a very emotional piece and definitely worth learning if you're OK playing in high postions. You can play some of it in low postions too though without quite the same effect.

Violinia

Why yes, i do know that piece and have the score. It really is a beautiful piece. High positions are no problem. I may start it in a few weeks after i get my G6 theory out of the way next week saturday.

[Violinia]

Have you ever heard a piece called 'Meditation' (from Thais) by Massenet? It's a very emotional piece and definitely worth learning if you're OK playing in high postions. You can play some of it in low postions too though without quite the same effect.

Violinia

Why yes, i do know that piece and have the score. It really is a beautiful piece. High positions are no problem. I may start it in a few weeks after i get my G6 theory out of the way next week saturday.

High postions, low postions, what's a postion between friends?

Methinks I need to double-check a bit more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Violinia

[grand choeur]

Have you ever heard a piece called 'Meditation' (from Thais) by Massenet? It's a very emotional piece and definitely worth learning if you're OK playing in high postions. You can play some of it in low postions too though without quite the same effect.

Violinia

Why yes, i do know that piece and have the score. It really is a beautiful piece. High positions are no problem. I may start it in a few weeks after i get my G6 theory out of the way next week saturday.

High postions, low postions, what's a between friends?

Methinks I need to double-check a bit more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Violinia

OOH.. ooh.. can GC have a postion too?

Pretty please-ly,
GC

[Fiona]

I absolutley adore Mediataion.
It was the one piece that made me want to start playing again.

I heard it performed at a concert at the Bridgewater Hall by my now teacher and it made me cry !
Just knew I had to play it.

As for the origional topic, I find confidence an issue. I'm fine playing in our orchestra and even move a little and also at home I'm more relaxed and put more into playing. But in lessons, I'm really concious of adding any feeling, movement or emotion.

I think I feel emabarassed ! I'm probably worrying that my teacher thinks I look silly ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Fee