Why do some pianists hear that a player plays with such emotion yet not be able to play like that?

Answer 1

You can teach any determined person to play the notes on a page...it takes a special touch to make it seem emotional..
Some people have it, some don't.

Answer 2

You know how some people just do something incredibly well? Glenn Gould, Wanda Landowska, Vladimir Horowitz; all of them had something special that we don't.

Coming down from the level of these gods, so to speak, some people are just more detached.

I'm not very good at letting my emotions come out. It's a constant struggle for me to be looser and more open. I've found that trying to hear music in everything helps a lot. Listen to a lot of music, constantly. You'll find that as you immerse yourself it becomes more and more intuitive. Find a recording of the piece by a master -i.e Gould- and try to listen to the mood. Then go on a site like YouTube and look around for other interpretations. Then try and enact a story in your mind while you play.

For example, if it's a nice calm piece, think of a time when you were just really relaxed and chilled out, and try to reenact that in your mind while you play. Think of the music as a soundtrack to your memory. Or make a story up. One piece I had -and it was a 90-second minuet- was a paladin falling from grace, his atonement, and then his happiness at having his honor restored. It can feel a little stupid, but it's all in your head so it's not like they can tell if your story's a bit trite.

Try to think of the music as being inside you and your fingers just happen to be a medium for it to make it to the piano.

Answer 3

My best answer is that music starts and ends in art. To play with emotion is to take the black and white notes on the page and make the music real, to breathe into the music life.

Sheet music is approximately 50% of the music, the rest is what you bring out of your feelings. Everybody will play music differently, although everybody could (and probably does!) listen to the same recordings over and over.

To play with emotion is taking your emotion, and creating something beautiful. Thats why some have trouble performing music just as they heard it, although they appreciate it to no end.

Answer 4

just like acting or singing, that emotion starts from inside of you, you can't just play the notes, and try to make it sound like an emotional performance. you have to feel that emotion, and sucome to it, let yourself go, involve yourself in the instrument, as if you were all alone.

you come across then as confident, which inspires confidence in other people. believe in yourself and others believe in you!!!

the emotion will not only come out in the way you play, but also the way you look, and move

Answer 5

You have to BECOME the music. What is the song talking about?How does it make you feel?Some songs sound dark or scary just in the tunes themselves.You have to get in touch with your own feelings to be able to feel.Start listening to music with your eyes closed.Different kinds & see how they make you feel.Obviously music has feeling because every major motion picture is lined with music for each scene.Become aware of your suroundings.

Answer 6

could be mastery over the instrument- enabling it to sing from its soul.Although the piano is a "percussive" instrument,some pianists seem to transend this attribute.....
I think "touch" is very important.
Interesting question. thank you.

Answer 7

Often the technique gets in the way.

Answer 8

I don't get it... What's your question??