I've been learning piano with a teacher for nearly two years now, and although I've asked on a number of occasions about how to improve my technique & tone etc, I've been told that it will develop through the pieces I'm learning ....

A friend who's recently changed teachers has been taken back to basics with technique and has been given a thorough demonstration of how to use arm weight, along with exercises to do, with the consequence that tone has improved greatly in a very short space of time - in fact I'm very impressed.

I'm now concerned that I'm missing out on something and ought to have been learning in this way from the start. Is this something normally taught from the beginning, or is it considered to be advanced technique?

I'd be keen to know what you all think before I discuss it with my teacher...sorry if I'm asking a daft question

Thanks
Jen

Hi Jen

Using the full weight of your arm to control your tone and add richness to your sound involves a free swing of your arm. This usually involves releasing the keys as well for maximum effect; this can only be done when you can use the sustaining pedal. That is why a lot of teachers do not teach it in the early stagers - beginners tend not to use the pedal.

Having said that, it is possible to use your whole arm whilst using a pure finger legato and it enhances the tone quality hugely. Either way, it is an advanced technique that requires high levels of co-ordination. Early-stage players often lack this co-ordination.

But no, it is not a daft question to put to your teacher

Steve

Thanks Steve - that's interesting - so is there a particular grade at which you would introduce it?

Not really. It is more a case of when I feel someone is ready. A student needs to be able to coordinate the movements, hear the difference it makes and wants to make that difference.

Having said, 'not really', I usually feel my own students are ready about grades 5-6; this is most likely to do with the quirks of my own teaching methods and I am flexible about it. I have also heard of teachers teaching it almost from the start. It all comes down to teaching styles, I guess.

Steve

Thank you