The Craft of Piano Playing: A New Approach to Piano Technique [Paperback]

Alan Fraser (Author), Sonya Ardan (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810845911 | ISBN-13: 978-0810845916 | Publication Date: June 2003

The Craft of Piano Playing presents a new, comprehensive and highly original approach to piano technique with a fascinating series of exercises designed to help the reader put this approach into practice. Alan Fraser has combined his extensive concert and pedagogical experience, his long-standing collaboration with the virtuoso Kemal Gekich, and his professional training in Feldenkrais Method to create this innovative technique. Using numerous musical examples and sketches he shows how many common movement habits at the keyboard can be counterproductive, and provides a new way of manipulating the skeletal frame of the hand to produce astonishing sonic results from the instrument.

This book suggests that in the light of new insights into the physics of human movement, a further development of piano technique is now possible, and that improved physical ability can free musical individuality to express itself more fully. The series of movement exercises presented activates the physical functions necessary to the pianist, helping both students who need remedial work in basic strength at the keyboard, and those who seek a new dimension of musical understanding and a new path for the development of pianist skills - thus synthesizing musical and physical issues. This approach can also serve as an effective antidote to debilitating performance anxiety, increasing one's emotional security by improving the physical and musical basis for it. By filling in a missing link between intention and physical execution, this book truly aims to advance the "craft of piano playing."

Visit Alan Fraser's web site at http://alanfraser.faithweb.com/

Editorial Reviews

Review

The most detailed and intensive study of the subject since Otto Ortmann's seminal work, The Physiological Mechanics of Piano Technique (1929). --PIANO Magazine UK (Nov-Dec 2004)

Astoundingly profound knowledge of body movement and structure... avoids the dryness of many pedagogical manuals... delivered with wit, charm, and a strong clarity of intention and thought... incredibly user friendly. --ISSTIP UK Journal (Jan 2004)

A formidable and insightful volume on piano tech­nique. A course based on these 417 articulate and often eloquent pages alone strikes me as a possibility for a pedagogy teacher. --American Music Teacher (Oct-Nov 2003)

All teachers and piano students should acquire this book... well-devised, carefully structured, laced with humour and resonates with Fraser's thinking: we need more exuberance, colour and life in our playing. --Piano Professional (EPTA UK) Jan 2004

Alan Fraser has written a formidable and insightful volume on piano technique. Using the Feldenkreis Method as his foundation, he has presented 417 articulate and often eloquent pages....the teacher working with younger students might find his book of great interest...I am pleased to recommend Fraser's book... (Louis Nagel American Music Teacher )

This study is the result of years of searching and thinking about piano performance and pedagogy; Fraser brings to it his astoundingly profound knowledge of body movement and structure, acquired through his training as a practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method, and his study of Eastern martial arts such as T'ai chi, in addition to extensive experience as a concert performer and pedagogue...Fraser challenges many common pedagogical beliefs and ideas of movement, with detailed discussions of such areas as arm weight and the role of the arm, legato playing and natural finger shape among others. Although this study is devoted primarily to the physical aspect of playing the piano...fascinating insights and ideas are also provided into the middleground and background, namely rhythm and phrasing, and the emotional content of music. (Manus Carey Journal Of The Isstip )

There are many useful ideas here, not just in the technical exercises, but also in the shorter sections on communication and interpretation. (Classical Music )

The most detailed and intensive study of the subject since Otto Ortmann's seminal work, The Physiological Mechanics of Pianoforte Technique (1929). (Daniel Stearns Piano Magazine )

All serious piano students should acquire this book, which is well-devised, carefully structured, and always laced with humour on this very serious topic…... (Nadia Lasserson Journal Of The European Piano Teachers' Association Uk )

Fraser fills his book with interesting observations, procedures, and thought-provoking personal concepts. Recommended. (Choice )

...there are topics in this text not really addressed elsewhere. It would make a good 'alternative' pedagogy text for courses about piano technique and a thought-provoking read for the advanced pianist. (Michael I. Goode American Music Teacher )

...a valuable addition to performance studies, communicating some of the passion (rarely found in this and other areas of study) that the author feels for the music under discussion. (Music And Letters )

About the Author

Canadian pianist Alan Fraser presents master classes and recitals worldwide. He developed Craft of Piano Method through his studies with pioneer pianist and psychologist Phil Cohen (assistant to Yvonne Hubert who had herself been Cortot's assistant) and Croatian pianist Kemal Gekic. In addition to The Craft of Piano Playing he is author of Honing the Pianistic Self-Image: Skeletal-Based Piano Technique, a DVD version of Craft, and a Study Guide linking all these together. Fraser makes his home in Serbia where he is Professor of Piano and Feldenkrais Method at the Art Academy of the University of Novi Sad.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810845911
• ISBN-13: 978-0810845916
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #587,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Canadian pianist, pedagogue and author Alan Fraser is best known for his landmark work, The Craft of Piano Playing, which examines the innate structure and function of the human hand to help pianists replace tension and over-relaxation with effective hand activation. Initially designed to help top-flight pianists add a further dimension of virtuosity and expressiveness to their technique, his approach known as Craft of Piano Method empowers even amateur and beginning pianists because it deals with aspects of human structure and function we all share.

Fraser has drawn on his early studies with pioneer pianist and psychologist Phil Cohen of Montreal, side trips into Tai Chi and Feldenkrais Method, and a 20-year collaboration with the Croatian virtuoso Kemal Gekic to develop this innovative approach to piano technique. He now lives in Serbia where he is Professor of Piano and Feldenkrais Method at the Art Academy of the University of Novi Sad. He concertizes and gives master classes worldwide, and continues to write and develop new pedagogical materials related to Craft of Piano Method. More at www.alanfraser.net .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a theoretically and practically sound approach, August 12, 2005

By 

Alvin Chan (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craft of Piano Playing: A New Approach to Piano Technique (Paperback)

I am a piano player from Hong Kong who was attracted to world of classical music, yet start learning piano at an old age. (15, which is normally considered too old for a good technique) Having drawn to different schools and still having no improvement for 4 years, I somehow gave up playing piano. At that time, I can hardly technically manage to play Mozart's sonata, not to say my favourite Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninov, etc. I have to say my hands are commented by many as suitable for playing piano, stretching a 11th. But they just don't work for me. From my various failed attempts, I somehow learnt to recognize what is useless for me. I read many books on techniques written by some of the greatest masters, as well as conversations with great pianists like Horowitz, but still find these completely useless, at least completely useless for improving technique which they are supposed to discuss. There is a book which discuss application of Alexander technique on piano technique which I find quite insightful, but again throughout the whole book of hundreds pages, I find very few practical advice: most of the materials is theory which sound very well but I cannot implement on my hands.

Until I saw the homepage of Alan Fraser then I know I can resume playing piano. I just keep improving after I got the book. Obstacles and problems for many years are solved one after one. I am not qualified to describe his method, just go to the homepage of the author for the philosophy behind

http://alanfraser.faithweb.com/

Just a word of warning for some potential readers: this book, while highly practical, is not an easy reading. And it is not an ABC piano playing book. The author aims to tackle technical problems on classical pieces like Lizst, Scriabin, Rachmaninov, which you will heard in a piano concert. It is for those who want to improve their technique in the long run, not for those who want to start playing piano. While the author explains everything fully, there is always a danger of underestimating the depth or do not understand at all of what the author wrote, particularly for those who are quite new to piano. But if you really understand what he means and follow completely and carefully (the exercise require your full attention and self-awareness)his exercisesm you can CERTAINLY expect a breakthrough in your technique!! (unlike other book on piano playing which ultimate rely on luck and the so-called "talent"--just as if you didn't read them)

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful view into the mechanics of finger activation, June 23, 2004

By 

Stephen Gamboa "Stephen Gamboa" (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Craft of Piano Playing: A New Approach to Piano Technique (Paperback)

Alan Fraser's book, which reveals the relation of good, legato-based, piano playing to Tai'Chi walking, offers an excellent insight into the art of "activating" the fingers. This technique, in which the fingers are strengthened and trained to function properly, relieves the arm of undue tension, and allows the pianist to produce a greater variety of tone and dynamics.
After purchasing this book and trying some of the exercises, which, by the way, are a little on the uncomfortable side if one's hand is not trained properly, I did notice a change in the way I played. My tone was meatier, and I had more control over articulation, dynamics, and color. Some of the exercises may have brought a little discomfort, but after practicing them for a period of time, the soreness disappeared and I could feel my hand and fingers participating correctly in my playing mechanism.
This book offers many valuable insights into playing piano and the real use of the hand and fingers. If you think you need it: buy it! If you don't: buy it! It will tell you if what you are doing is right or not. Also, the book gets an A+ in terms of understandability---Fraser will not leave you in the dark! Everything is explained fully, and the concepts overlap often. Altogether an excellent and incredibly informative book!

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and valuable, November 10, 2005

By 

Jim Curry (MT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Craft of Piano Playing: A New Approach to Piano Technique (Paperback)

Many people just love music, and I do, too. While I have practiced pretty diligently since childhood, I've always been a very poor pianist. Last year, it was so bad that two guests at my house asked me very strenuously to play (seeing the pianos in the room). My playing was so abominable that they had to ask me to stop only a few measures in (I warned them). So, loving music isn't enough. My hands and arms have not been habituated to movement in the sensitive and economical way that is capable of producing acceptable tone. Although I have usually lived in a remote site, I have had a couple of good teachers (for short periods of time). They helped me only a little. I have had some extremely nasty and impatient teachers (very harsh people). They didn't help. This book gives clear and accessible instructions of how to use the hands and arms appropriately to produce tones at the piano that I had not known it could produce. It gives good clues of how an actual legato can be obtained on the piano. For those of us who are totally out of the game of music, this represents real hope that we might eventually enjoy making real music, too, and not simply torturing ourselves and our listeners with endless incompetent and ugly "practice." I know of no other book anywhere that gives sufficiently clear and anatomically oriented instructions that an anti-musician like myself might benefit, too. If the author had the goal of allowing those of us in the cheapest seats to enjoy making music, too, it's the best effort I've seen. Thanks so much. Well done. I needed it, and so did the poor unfortunates who ask me to play once too often!