How to Play Like Marc-André Hamelin

Note: I am well aware that what follows will win me no medals, no applause, and certainly no popularity, but truth has never grown stronger by bowing to fashion. Within many institutions and studios, piano competitions are commonly viewed as milestones in the training of young pianists. They are said to foster discipline, heighten motivation, and provide valuable experience in performing under pressure. These arguments, however, rest upon a narrow vision of human development,

....Op. 106 was more than just a professional undertaking for Beethoven...

Encountering a child with rare gifts is both a blessing and a danger. Their eyes often shine with an ancient clarity, their hands seek the instrument as if remembering it from another life, and their grasp of complexity defies explanation. Yet the very light that radiates from them can turn into a consuming fire if not carefully tended. It is in the early years, especially between the ages of six and sixteen, that the teacher must tread with utmost awareness. These are not ju

What Bach and Beethoven Really Teach Us About the Human Mind. A pianist who approaches Bach or Beethoven often believes he is preparing to perform the music. In truth, he is preparing consciousness. The keyboard is not merely an instrument that produces tones. It is a surface upon which the inner life of the human being becomes audible. Every phrase that passes through the fingers reveals something about the condition of the mind that produces it. A performer may possess flaw