Going Deep instead

Oh well well well, ladies & gentlemen. There seems to be some disturbance once again regarding this, where I mentioned I aspire to go high for music, instead of going wide.

Some felt that I am arrogant, exaggerated and flamboyant. Technically, if I read my own blog as a 3rd party, I would agree!

However, my distinguished royals, please allow me to rephrase myself.

For my piano journey in 2026 & beyond, if I have a choice to go high or go wide - I would prefer to reach the highest I can reach, in terms of - musicality, technique, performance & the entire package. I'm ok if I don't go too wide. I'm ok if not many people know of me or the instrument. Even if I don't really expand my repertoire that much, I am still ok. I don't feel that bad.

Perhaps I ought to have clarified - In order for me to go high, I need to dive deep into the details of every single piece (especially classical/contemporary pieces bought over by the main music boards).

The other day, I went for a TCM tummy massage at Chinatown & a lady from a rural town in China was able to articulate, very clearly, every singular muscle from my abdomen, to my ribcage, to how to breathe in & out etc... I want this kind of meticulousness in my music. I feel like I have it, yet I know it is not enough.

How loud should the forte be in the context of that piece in that particular setting/period? Should the fingers be strictly-curved or naturally relaxed? Is there really a need to use wrist actions, arm weight and body movements for every single piece? How do we apply the knowledge of Scales, Sight-Reading, Aural/Ear & Theory into our piano playing, and most importantly - how to connect everything.

D.e.e.p thoughts tonight, but only for my talented readers (if you are one).

Solo

There are many activities that are conducted in a group setting - basketball, dance, tuition etc...

But - why is it that piano lessons are still largely conducted in a 1-to-1 setting?

Occasionally, there are buddy, parent-child and ensemble classes. But for the sake of this blog, let's limit piano lessons to 1-teacher + 1-student setting.

1 or 2 parent (s) may observe the class - and this is rather common for schooling kids while there will definitely be 1 parent sitting in for kids below 12. Meanwhile, both parents sit their butts in for kids below 7/8. Personally, I love it when parents sit in, I feel like its more fun and there's this we-are-together vibe going on. Yay!

Leaving the parent conversation aside, I believe the reason that piano lessons must be conducted in a solo setting is truly because of one main reason - Correction of Technique.

Imagine with me - everything can be achieved in a pair/trio/group setting. Play right hand, left hand, by-parts playing, both hands, rhythm training, theorical knowledge etc...

But I can n.e.v.e.r correct your technique (the 'how' to play), and even if there are brief mentions of certain general techniques, I can almost n.e.v.e.r check & double-check that you did your correction properly. Simply because, technique is designed to be watched upon in individual classes.

And to leave the joke to the joker, this bloody technique, is the most important factor that may kill or heighten your musical ability/interest.

Years of successful piano lessons should produce a pianist-student whom is able to place his/her hands on the piano in a relaxed-curved shape. He/she should sit slightly away from the piano, keeping their elbows loose, but not drooping. We all should find the notes on the keyboard relatively fast after just a glance at the score sheet. There should be absolutely no shaking/searching/unsure moments on the keyboard. if. technique. is. focused. on. throughout. our. lovely. piano. journeys.

Grade 8, Dip, LR, FR & Beyond.

Many of us reached Grade 8 in our primary instrument - whether it's piano, violin or vocal.

Personally, I find Grade 8 hard to teach - but not hard to play. Grade 8 is easy to perform - but not easy to excel. In fact, even among my best students, I don't see anyone shine at G8. Everyone look as if they are digging the piano soil or transforming the piano into a Roblox.

I spent 2 - 3 years on my own Grade 8 actually, achieving a well-deserved Distinction 2 - 3 years after my Grade 7 exam.

My actual memories in my piano route start from Grade 8, DipAB, LR & FR. To say the truth, I could hardly remember much from my pre-G8 journey, other than my lovely thoughts of my first teacher from Shanghai.

DipAB was pretty breezy for me, probably because I spent almost 3 years on G8, that certain repertoires I played were almost Dip! Probably that was a power play from my teacher - ensuring I played Dip pieces even before I attempted G8 exam. Once again, yours truly, a stupid pig, scored Distinction for the Recital component of DipAB.

LR was almost suffocating because there is such a huge jump from Dip to LR, in terms of depth, length and technique of the pieces. I passed, of course. But - no Distinction for me from LR and onwards. Safe passes... still.

FRSM (cover of this blog) - I shined. I know I did well, I matured, I 开窍 - even if my results do not reflect how I feel. I just know, from FR and onwards, I nailed my performance. I don't feel that piano is difficult anymore. I can relax both my mind and fingers on the piano. My wrist did hurt a little, but now it is recovered.

....

Most importantly, FR made me love Classical. God damn it but e.v.e.n in LR, I stiilll reach for pops. Obviously everyone reach for pops every now and then. But I truly feel, pops should not be in our default setting. If I can change something, probably I would make every piano student start from Classical training. I mean it.

FR also removed my ego filter, and made me see/hear my music in 4K. You know how sometimes you think you performed well because of musical endorphins, but when you truly removed your ego filter, you find yourself rushing the tempo, playing the accompaniment part too loudly, not shaping the melody, accenting at places you shouldn't be accenting etc... ?

I am glad I removed my filter. But I think I would still go for fillers..