Rocking Piano Down The Runway

“Whoa! Not many people could pull that dress off,” I thought as I gazed at the pictures on Pinterest. The dress was low cut and red, with the bodice made entirely of roses. Next to it, was a short dress of ivy and pink roses. As I scrolled down I saw many variations of style from romantic, to country, to gothic.

To keep the guys from feeling left out, I googled a bit and found, among other things, several elaborate rose tattoos, a silver rose biker ring, and a rather flamboyant black and red rose shirt. Again, some of it was tough to pull off.

What does all this have to do with piano?

Pieces are like clothing. Not everyone can pull off everything. You have to have the right fit for your proportions and body type. You have to have the right fit for your personality. You have to have the confidence to pull off the look (or, in the case of music, the sound).

So many times, students are taught from a list; The Great American Novel, The Russian Novel, The Chopin Nocturne, The Beethoven Sonata. Yet, there is a wealth of literature out there which might fit an individual much better and inspire the confidence needed to really pull off an innovative personal interpretation.

Yes, there are pieces which have been used for decades, even centuries, to build technique and musicality. But, there are alternate pieces which can do the same jobs.

I have a high school student who came to me struggling with a famous Bach Prelude and Fugue which was quite architectural in nature. He didn’t want to practice it but soldiered on through the mire dutifully. His performance was correct but rather like he was wearing a shapeless suit, several sizes too big. Later that year, I gave him one of the more melodic French Suites. His attitude of duty changed to delight and he was able to perform confidently—to rock it down the runway, as it were.

Why force a piece or a dress, or a shirt on someone who has neither the body or the personality for it?

Certainly, everyone needs to try on every style a few times. Otherwise, how can you know what you like and are comfortable in? The same goes for music. There are those who savor intricacies, who revel in austerity, who get a kick out of form and structure, who venture headlong into virtuosity, or who are tickled pink by character. Deep down each of us has a place where we feel centered and fully able—a place of pure confidence.

One size does not fit all. (and, I could never in a million years pull of that dress or the one next to it. Perhaps that more understated little number further down the page?)