Lesson with Lang Lang and Anna Larsen (Part 3)

This segment continues part 3 of 5 of the lesson on Mozart's Piano Concerto 23, third movement. These segments should be of special interest to people interested in the artistic process. Especially insight to that process from a genius like Lang Lang. Here, Lang Lang talks more about character, phrasing, articulation and conducting. He reminds Anna to change fingers on repeated notes, which she sometimes forgets to do. Lang Lang also says that it's easy to play Mozart like exercises, but this is not the right way! He also gives Anna the take home assignment to listen to opera. I confess Anna has not done much of this! A resolution for 2009.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Anna Larsen
• Lang Lang
• Piano Lesson
• third movement
• Master Class

[wanruthang]

Are both of the pianos grand pianos?

 Btw, she is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

[LarsenPiano]

Yep - Anna took the D and Lang Lang was on the B. The bigger pianos make you listen to yourself in a whole new way.

[MaryRuth72]

I'm really enjoying these.

Yes, go watch some opera (or sing in a choir yourself). Mozart is very singing in style. I know when I play his sonatas I always end up developing little dialogs between characters. I don't try to do this, it's just what happens.

One funny thing you'll soon learn, or you may already have been told from all your wonderful teachers is that on the piano we can only create an illusion of what voice can do--we CAN'T crescendo through a sustained note. UGH!

[LarsenPiano]

Yes, we are working on creating some dialogs too!  It really helps infuse her playing with more character. It helps when the characters are more black and white, like in Beethoven. Mozart is more subtle.

[MaryRuth72]

Beethoven is more orchestral, so you can think in terms of different instruments. Mozart is lyrical so one must think in terms of song and that is why watching more opera would be helpful. With Beethoven you can create mood in Mozart one must create dialog.

[LarsenPiano]

That's very insightful, I never thought about it that way before! Thanks for sharing that.

[kaitoxxjeanne]

Both of them ARE AMAZING

[biegel88]

Two things I think she can indeed do at this stage is sing alot when she practices, and also listen for balance, so the left hand is not at the same level of sound as the melodic line. Singing out loud during study helps to make the piano replicate the human voice. The feeling of the sound must be in the fingertips--the first contact with the instrument.

[goodguysdoll]

He is absolutely HORRIBLE with kids. He's not speaking her language and he's not telling her anything about the music. He's just giving her little stupid ideas that won't do her much good. Anyway, she could be teaching him a thing or two about grace and poise at the keyboard. 

[goodguysdoll]

Listening to opera will do her no good because most singers are totally clueless as musicians. Consider it a blessing you didn't yet to this. Please don't. Just let he grow with instrumentalists and perhaps pop singers. Stay away from classical singers unless she wants to learn how NOT to count, and how NOT to honor the composers' intentions.

[doopie007]

it makes me smile when i see her little hands on the piano compared with her serious, determined look - wonderful class due to both teacher and student

[332synic233]

Woah!! she's a quick learner! ;)

(& its only been, like the third part of the lesson :o)

[yiyiku]

i am only 3 minutes into part 3 of this series, but it is amazing how much she has improved already since part I. she is no doubt talented, but lang lang has given her some great advice here, and she has taken them on so well! thank you for posting these clips. i shall continue watching

[wanruthang]

Oh, ok. I thought that Lang Lang and Anna got the same pianos. It must be not easy to play on it cause mostly Grand Pianos are hard to play on.