The Score Magazine August 2018 issue | Page 40

VYOMA SHAH
The Score Magazine
38 highonscore . com

Practising Piano Away From The Piano

Several instances can keep you away from your piano – long commutes to work , business or leisure trips , neighbors that aren ’ t cooperative with the apparent ‘ noise ’ that music creates and so an and so forth . However if you sincerely want to practise in these circumstances , you can indeed . Here ’ s how :
Scales : Learning scales aids in a detailed understanding of music theory , helps develop correct technique as well as the strength and agility required to practically execute advanced concepts . You can easily practise scales on any flat surface . Start by visualizing the notes of the scale that you ’ re practising , on the piano . Be mindful of the sharps and flats , unless you ’ re practising the C major scale . Then , practise the scale in ascending and descending order with the correct fingers . Do it a few times over , till you feel like it ’ s becoming a part of your muscle memory .
Finger exercises : Finger exercises are also something that you can easily work on , in the absence of a piano . Here are a few that you can practise :
• The simplest one is to start on your thumb in both hands and tap all your five fingers in contrary motion . Start at a slow tempo and build up speed .
• You can develop on the above exercise by adding accents to certain taps . For example , you can first accent every third tap ; then switch it up and accent every fourth tap .
• Create different patterns based on finger numbers and practise them in both hands . A common one is 1-3-2-4-3-5-4-2 ( the numbers being finger numbers ).
Learning a new piece : Learning a new piece without actually playing it requires a certain level of patience and focus . However , it largely helps in internalizing a piece and developing a strong sense of command over it . Here ’ s how you can go about it :
Step 1 : Read the score – really dissect it . Make a mental note of the time signature , key signature , repeat signs , dynamic markings and accidentals , if any .
Step 2 : Decide on a small section of the piece you want to work on ( anywhere between 8-16 bars ), depending on the amount of time you have . You can listen to an audio file of the piece if possible , before you start physically playing it with your fingers .
Step 3 : Start with the treble clef . Visualize the starting note first and then make a mental map of the following notes . Play through the right hand part bar by bar , at a very slow tempo while trying your best to picture the notes on the piano and imagining the sound of the melody . You can slowly increase tempo , as and when you get comfortable with the all the parts . Follow the same process for the bass clef parts and then slowly practise the treble and bass clef parts together .
Practising a known piece : If you ’ ve already learnt a piece on the piano and know it relatively well , you can review it and solidify it while you ’ re away from your instrument . You could either sing or hum out treble and bass clef parts separately or play the whole piece on a flat surface , while mentally envisaging your fingers playing the notes on the piano . You can also sing out the right hand parts , while playing the left hand parts on a flat surface and vice versa .
Working on your non-dominant hand : One of my teachers ’ once recommended that I do everyday things with my left hand to achieve dexterity , stability and to improve co-ordination while playing . While this has got nothing to do with directly practising , you could try doing daily tasks like opening the door , combing your hair , brushing your teeth or even writing a few lines with your nondominant hand from time to time .
Practising away from the piano is surprisingly beneficial and you will definitely see what all the fuss is about , once you give it a go .