Weekly Studio Update - "Piano Myths" - 04/11/19

As part of an upcoming project, over the past week I've brainstorming piano "myths" - things that you've heard that you've assumed are true, but might in fact be misinformation or information that needs updating as our knowledge of how people learn and the way that our bodies work develops.
I'm curious to hear from you - is there anything that you had assumed to be "true" that you've discovered is not the case while learning the piano?

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During lessons I'm often surprised at the information that students have brought with them, either from previous teachers or from watching other players. And as with so many things in life, often there's no black and white "right or wrong" answer. Every piano teacher has their own set of circumstances and learning that has taken them to where they are today and it's important to me to continue to learn so that the myths I learned when I was younger are challenged.

Perhaps the biggest myth I've had to bust for myself in the last couple of years in my own playing is that effort equals strength. If I'm practising something that I feel requires more effort, whether it's mental effort or doing something technically challenging, my new mantra is try it with ease. Reducing the "effort", which usually causes tension and stiffness, usually provides much better results.

You can start your mythbusting by reading my FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) here.

Things I've been watching/listening to this week:

1. HAIM - Now I'm In It (Official Video) - I really like the way Haim uses pulse and syncopation in their songs. There's a cool bluesy piano thing going on at around 2:40 as well. Reminds me a lot of "I Want You" by Savage Garden!
2. Taylor Swift: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert - a lot more talking than playing, but nice to hear some big pop songs pared back to their acoustic roots.
3. I've moved on from albums starting with the letter D, so it's time for the letter E! Housework this week was soundtracked by Foo Fighters (Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace), The New Pornographers (Electric Version) and They Might Be Giants (The Else).