i`m a music lover, and i want to be a musician like you although i know how to play harmonica, piano slowly,flute, lyre/xylophone, but its not enough, i need your help and your opinions on how would i be a good musician like you???
thank for your good advice....

I am simply reposting this from my response to the hardest piano piece. Perhaps these guidelines can help.

"I apologize, I didn`t read many replies before posting myself.

Acknowledgements- The Art of Piano playing a scientific approach. by George Kochevitsky.

Piano, of all things, is a mental activity, not a physical one. As this has been noted, for the last 200 years piano has been taught incorrectly. The main ideas teachers brought fourth were finger velocity. This was the incorrect process of raising the fingers as high as possible, and then striking down at the keys. Based on further reading, I understand that many students/ or teachers are under the impression that piano is very easy.

Unfortunately, it is not. PIano is not just finger work, as thistype of practice will eventually produce injuries. It should be noted that piano is a mental task based purely on the dexterity of the brain. Piano is also not natural. In terms of moving fingers very fast, it is proven that this is related primarily to IQ (intelligence quotient). A person with higher intelligence capabilities will be able to wiggle two adjacent fingers much faster with in the duration of one second. One reason why piano isn`t sole based on finger work. Because of the abnormality of piano, it should be understood that it is a cognitive process. These processes are conditioned reflexes.

Proficient piano playing is more than the ability of seeing the written note, and then finding it on the keyboard. One must be able to see, hear inwardly, perform motor action, and then physically hear the sound to determine the results of playing. This motor coordination requires the ability to quickly calculate the distances between note (be it black and white notes) and intervals. THe mind must be able to read patterns, not individual notes. Being able to recognize patterns of successive notes, helps a pianist learn new material faster. Every Chopin Etude has a pattern which needs to be worked out. After working this out, the rest of the piece falls into place. Note in the c#-minor etude, one should recognize the four note patterns. Seeing this helps comprehend the piece as a whole. Also observe the ascending pattern of notes (begins on half beats). THe brain should process this as four sequential notes in a row. But this should be played and heard with the down beat in the correct places (the third of the consecutive notes).

Therefore, instead of quibbling with the ______ contest, may I suggest some practice guidelines for conquering your dream piece.

For those of you who hate scales, these are very important. They not only help a pianist understand the feeling of each key, but this also helps them calculate distances between notes. DO NOT SKIP OVER THESE. IT should also be noted when reading music that a long group of notes may be comprehended as a simple scale, which is something you have been practicing every single day.

THe next important point is slow practice with the METRENOME. DO NOT jump into material you are not prepared for, and don`t get a head of yourself with speed. SLow concious practicing helps not only timing(essentially what piano is), but, believe it or not, this will help improve your reading ability.

To improve your reading, try looking at the piece with a wider view. First of all, to change ones focus, practice the following drill. move your hand 2-4 inches in front of your music and focus on your hand. When you move your hand away, you want to beable to keep this, lazy-cross-eyed vision. This drill will help you expand your vision.

Also, never fear hands alone drilling (especially left hand). This helps improve your memory of a piece and this is good practice.

And remember, piano performance is not playing the most challenging piece for Vladmir Horowitz, nor even Artur Rubenstein. Being The best pianist is fulfilling your physical and musical capabilities. Music is language of the heart, and that of life. It is futile to spend six hours practicing at the piano (3 hours is the most anyone should spend). This not only burns one out (I have seen this from experience), but what do they have to convey with the piano if piano is life. HOw can a person convey passion of their personal/emotional life, and their music when their life is piano."