Masterclass by Dr. Chad Bowles

Piano Prodigies hosted a masterclass by pianist and teacher Chad Bowles on Friday, April 7, 2017. Three students performed for Dr. Bowles and received feedback on how to practice and work to improve their playing:

Grace (age 6)
Sonatina Humoresque (Preambulum: Allegro) by Christos Tsitsaros
Sonatina Op. 55, No. 3 (Allegro con spirito) by Friedrich Kuhlau
Amica (age 10)
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Prelude Op. 12 No. 7 ("Harp") by Sergei Prokofiev
Liana (age 13)
Fantasie Impromptu by Frederic Chopin
Sonata No. 4 Op. 128, Movement IV by Diane Rahbee

Summary:

• Be aware of your surroundings (acoustics!)
• The production of sound (especially fast-moving notes) in a resonant space must be extra clear (articulated) so that everyone can understand what you're saying!
  
• Know your score and be aware of all slurs, breaks in slurs, accents... all expressive markings and their meanings and language!
  
• The bass of the piano is louder due to the size and length of the strings. Thus, for a descending scale that is diminuendo you have to try extra hard
  
• When you're nervous your fingers are harder to control... and you think "faster." You need to work in your practicing to set things in place so that under pressure they still function. And... have a plan to avoid rushing. Practicing with metronome is good, but you can't perform with metronome... so you need backup methods. Count the sub-beats of longer note values so that you don't skip ahead.
• You as performer have to be sensitive to the harmonic/dynamic surprises in the music so that you can surprise the audience.
• Experiment with "expected" harmony vs. what is written so that you can feel the difference, and then convey it to the audience.
• If there is repetition, be sure to say it differently each time. This is a given in life (conversation) and music.
• Work on voicing by shifting weight and exaggerating the difference between notes.
• Be sure that you feel character changes. In your practicing, express them as specific adjectives.
• Where is each phrase leading?
• We hear better and more accurately if we sit still. Be careful not to move too much, for no good reason.
• For maximum emotional impact of a special note, delay it. Use time to highlight it.
• COUNT! Always count! Don't stop counting. One of the most important things about playing music is playing at the right time.​