Empathy

A pianist is to compete in a state recital representing his or her district. Choosing which piece to play can prove to be a daunting task, so let us consider "listening" to some selections. In our citations section we have acknowledged composers of midi music who created "original works." Knowing something of the background of the composer, what they were thinking when the score was composed, events which shaped their perception of their music, when "listened to", place us in their shoes and perhaps we can now play with the same passion and mind set of the composer.

So let us start this exercise by visiting one of the composers web sites, selecting a favorite midi and then writing to the composer to give us information which would enable us to understand and feel their composition. This is called empathy.

Using What You  Learned

Now you have a letter or email from the composer of the midi you selected.  Let's begin with the idea that when we remember something we have seen, heard or felt, we recreate the sight, sound or feeling in our imagination.  We remember what we have seen by seeing it again in our "minds eye."  We recall sounds by rehearing them in our "inner ear", and we remember physical and emotional feelings by sensing them again.

The strongest and most reliable memories consist of a picture, sound and feeling of the experience.  Memorizing a piece of music for a performance involves forming a mental picture of the music, developing a fast, error-free muscle memory of the piece (the feeling memory), and being able to hear it mentally without the score.

In general, the more practiced a skill becomes, the less aware we are of exactly how we do it.  Aural responses happen in an instant.

Now how do you get the "feeling" from a composer who is dead?  Read about his or her background and what others say about the piece you will play.  Hopefully your skills will improve, you will have fun in the process and please pick up an award.

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