From heavy metal music to completely improvised free jazz, there are certain characteristics that we associate with various types of music. We all categorize the music we hear differently. What we are told as students, what we teach to our students, what we read, infer, and assume from listening all make up our own interpretation of each "genre" of music. Many groups attempt or claim to make music that is "genre-defying" and does not fit one single style of music. This may be the case, but the same bands often use multiple genres to describe their music. In other words, they use the same categories they are challenging to define their art. The bottom line is these categories exist, whether we want them to or not. No matter what type of music you are passionate about, each band, ensemble, performance, soloist, and genre has its own characteristics.
Next time you are working on a piece, think about the style you wish to convey, and find unique words to describe each passage or section of music. Your interpretation should always be a work in progress with constant updating and tweaking, but when practicing, try using many styles to work on a tricky passage. Try to play an etude while imagining a salsa, rock, or funk accompaniment. It is kind of unusual to think about, but ends up being really fun once you get into it. If a passage is technically difficult or you just can't figure out the best way to phrase it, you will have new ideas about the phrase by looking at it in a different way.
Try playing it slow and lyrically, and then contrast that with fast and aggressively. You can change rhythms, use a straight vs swing feel, or take a different excerpt to use as inspiration for the one you are currently studying. For example, try playing Petrushka in the style of the opening of Pictures, then intensely like the opening of Mahler 5, and finally lyrically using the solo from Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1 as your inspiration. Sometimes I just take the notes from an excerpt and improvise the articulation and rhythm. In doing this, I am still working on centering the pitches of the music, but keep the music fresh by changing parts of it.
Another easy way to accomplish a style change is to use a drum machine instead of a generic metronome. Changing the style from jazz to reggae to pop will give you a different background and feel, even if you play the excerpt the same way over each back beat. We still need plenty of practice playing music the way we will ultimately perform it, but it doesn't hurt to break the monotony by changing styles. Try it out and see if it works!
Next time you are working on a piece, think about the style you wish to convey, and find unique words to describe each passage or section of music. Your interpretation should always be a work in progress with constant updating and tweaking, but when practicing, try using many styles to work on a tricky passage. Try to play an etude while imagining a salsa, rock, or funk accompaniment. It is kind of unusual to think about, but ends up being really fun once you get into it. If a passage is technically difficult or you just can't figure out the best way to phrase it, you will have new ideas about the phrase by looking at it in a different way.
Try playing it slow and lyrically, and then contrast that with fast and aggressively. You can change rhythms, use a straight vs swing feel, or take a different excerpt to use as inspiration for the one you are currently studying. For example, try playing Petrushka in the style of the opening of Pictures, then intensely like the opening of Mahler 5, and finally lyrically using the solo from Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1 as your inspiration. Sometimes I just take the notes from an excerpt and improvise the articulation and rhythm. In doing this, I am still working on centering the pitches of the music, but keep the music fresh by changing parts of it.
Another easy way to accomplish a style change is to use a drum machine instead of a generic metronome. Changing the style from jazz to reggae to pop will give you a different background and feel, even if you play the excerpt the same way over each back beat. We still need plenty of practice playing music the way we will ultimately perform it, but it doesn't hurt to break the monotony by changing styles. Try it out and see if it works!
RSS Feed
