Recently, I was taking my latest private lesson with my piano teacher, Dr. Josh Wright, and had several flashing moments of insight.
Wright seemed to truly appreciate, for example, my playing of a Chopin mazurka and noticed a certain way in which I was playing particular passages. So I explained that I often play Bach for work and that I might be carrying over a bit of that sound and sense into my Chopin interpreting of the passages in question.
I felt further compelled to add that I had not “cheated” by listening to very many recordings online before working on this particular mazurka with him, but that I was playing it the way that my mind was audiating it. In reality, so much Chopin playing runs the gamut on Youtube that I used the word “cheat” semi-facetiously. He noted that it was good that I was audiating, nevertheless, he reassured me that I am at a point where I could probably safely take in more recordings now of this mazurka.
So incredibly modest, he gave examples of how he grew on his own journey to playing Chopin. He shared with me: “I have sometimes wondered, do you have to be Polish to play these mazurkas? The answer is no, of course.”
Toward the end of the lesson, Wright pointed me to a wonderful book to which I will make references during my upcoming Chopin piano recital this spring: Frydery Chopin, A Life and Times by Alan Walker.
Looking forward to digging into this book!
Hi! I’m Isabel Marcheselli, an artist teacher. If you liked this post, please “like,” “favorite,” leave a comment, or “share” it with others to show your support – it really helps me to reach others out there – thanks! Also follow this blog and visit my links at: https://linktr.ee/marchesellimusic
