I teach voicing and balance to my piano students in a very simple way that works well. I get them to play a scale going up and down, maybe of C major, in thirds, and get them to emphasize the upper note, and then play the scale again emphasizing the lower note. I then move on to scales with bigger chords such as triads, first inversions and seconding inversions, with the upper note emphasized in one run, the middle note, and then the lower note in the second and third runs. This requires independence of the fingers and careful listening to get the required result. It means that the note being emphasized has to be played with the finger depressing the key faster, and the other notes softer by pressing the keys more slowly. One of the best demonstrations of voicing and balance is in the piano transcription by Egon Petri of J.S. Bachs Sheep May Safely Graze where the melody is played as the upper, middle and lower notes in one hand, or shared momentarily with the left hand. The melodic line must be maintained continuously, regardless of which finger or which hand is playing it, while the accompaniment notes are in proper balance and at the correct level below the melody. It is very challenging but extremely important to achieve. Of course, Bach Preludes, Fugues and inventions are very good for this too. https://youtube/watch?v=Xgyz0XqDEEA
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 15:17:20 +0000
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