I agree it's a good habit to avoid looking at the hands while playing accordion as it's better to concentrate on the music. But there are times (such as a long jump or a glissando) when a quick glance will make it secure - there's no shame in doing that.
Yes, indeed. There is no shame in glancing at the keyboard, or in completely looking at your hands during a performance of a memorized piece in front of a live audience or video camera to improve performance accuracy. Many virtuosos do it. But the danger for beginners like me is if I look too much at my hands while learning new pieces I never develop sight reading skills. That was my mistake on the piano. The accordion is helping me change that because its keyboard is more difficult to see.
So, if I understand correctly, you are both recommending not necessarily that I never look at my hands, but that I am able to play a piece that I have not memorized by simultaneously reading the notes on the page and pressing the corresponding keys, perhaps occasionally glancing at my hands. As you point out, that should be easy enough to do with the beginning pieces of the Palmer Hughes course because each finger remains over the same key for the entire piece. Thank you both for you guidance.
You do understand correctly. In most of my videos I am reading the sheet music placed at camera level as I play because I have not yet committed the piece to memory. Can't you tell? Thus I am able to save the time and trouble of memorization. Of course, after repeated practice I do automatically memorize the ones I play most often. Thank you very much for posting these questions. Sight reading is an important skill. This discussion will be very valuable to many other beginners.
Thank you for posting that question. I don't think it's tough. The very beginning is the easiest time to sight read because the music is so simple. Take the very first video in this series for example. The fingers remain in one position on the keyboard. Anyone can sight read that. You can look at your hand to get it into position, but when playing you should keep your eye on the sheet music. Each new piece is only slightly more difficult than the previous. Don't forget. I'm a beginner myself.
Thanks again for your encouragement. To answer your question, as I explain in the text of my video for "Mach Slav", I am specifically training myself to NOT look at my hands from the very beginning because it is a valuable skill. Many people look at their hands in the beginning, but then they cannot break the habit. I made that mistake on the piano. It is more difficult to not look at your hands, especially when the music gets more complex. It may look easy in the video, but it is difficult.
Many advanced players do look at their hands when they perform. However, my experience is that these same people when called upon can play directly from sheet music as well. Obviously in that case they need to keep their eyes on the music. They can't look at their hands. That skill is called sight reading. And yes, I believe everyone should try to develop that skill from the very beginning. Once you start looking at your hands, it's a habit that is difficult to break.
Nicely played, very accurate.
I agree it's a good habit to avoid looking at the hands while playing accordion as it's better to concentrate on the music. But there are times (such as a long jump or a glissando) when a quick glance will make it secure - there's no shame in doing that.
bsam20uk 2 years ago 2
Yes, indeed. There is no shame in glancing at the keyboard, or in completely looking at your hands during a performance of a memorized piece in front of a live audience or video camera to improve performance accuracy. Many virtuosos do it. But the danger for beginners like me is if I look too much at my hands while learning new pieces I never develop sight reading skills. That was my mistake on the piano. The accordion is helping me change that because its keyboard is more difficult to see.
myaccordionhistory 2 years ago
So, if I understand correctly, you are both recommending not necessarily that I never look at my hands, but that I am able to play a piece that I have not memorized by simultaneously reading the notes on the page and pressing the corresponding keys, perhaps occasionally glancing at my hands. As you point out, that should be easy enough to do with the beginning pieces of the Palmer Hughes course because each finger remains over the same key for the entire piece. Thank you both for you guidance.
JustStartingToPlay 2 years ago 2
You do understand correctly. In most of my videos I am reading the sheet music placed at camera level as I play because I have not yet committed the piece to memory. Can't you tell? Thus I am able to save the time and trouble of memorization. Of course, after repeated practice I do automatically memorize the ones I play most often. Thank you very much for posting these questions. Sight reading is an important skill. This discussion will be very valuable to many other beginners.
myaccordionhistory 2 years ago
Aren't you being a bit tough to ask a beginner to sight read?
JustStartingToPlay 2 years ago 2
Thank you for posting that question. I don't think it's tough. The very beginning is the easiest time to sight read because the music is so simple. Take the very first video in this series for example. The fingers remain in one position on the keyboard. Anyone can sight read that. You can look at your hand to get it into position, but when playing you should keep your eye on the sheet music. Each new piece is only slightly more difficult than the previous. Don't forget. I'm a beginner myself.
myaccordionhistory 2 years ago
I wondering always how easy you are playing, without looking down. Great .
This song is also popular in Germany. Thanks for posting it.
6Heureka 2 years ago 3
Thanks again for your encouragement. To answer your question, as I explain in the text of my video for "Mach Slav", I am specifically training myself to NOT look at my hands from the very beginning because it is a valuable skill. Many people look at their hands in the beginning, but then they cannot break the habit. I made that mistake on the piano. It is more difficult to not look at your hands, especially when the music gets more complex. It may look easy in the video, but it is difficult.
myaccordionhistory 2 years ago
Thank you for explaining about not looking at your hands. Do you think everyone should play without looking at their hands?
Good job on this video. I am looking forward to playing it myself. You are improving so fast I can't keep up.
luapparc 2 years ago 2
Many advanced players do look at their hands when they perform. However, my experience is that these same people when called upon can play directly from sheet music as well. Obviously in that case they need to keep their eyes on the music. They can't look at their hands. That skill is called sight reading. And yes, I believe everyone should try to develop that skill from the very beginning. Once you start looking at your hands, it's a habit that is difficult to break.
myaccordionhistory 2 years ago