Journal · Video
Where Does Musical Expression Begin? The Paradox of Listening
7 min 1 sec ·
This video accompanies the Journal essay — Where Does Expression Begin? — from The PianoWell System. Watch it here, then read the full essay for the complete argument and detailed study.
About this video
We carefully construct inner hearing, inner singing, harmony, musical speech, phrasing and form — but eventually expression requires a different relationship to all of that. Rather than consciously executing what has been prepared, the pianist begins to listen and respond to what is unfolding inwardly.
We treat expression as something we add to music. But perhaps it has two beginnings — one built with painstaking care, and one that becomes possible only when we stop controlling it and start to listen.