As my students become more advanced, I am noticing that each one seems to naturally fall into three categories when it comes to “feeling” the music.

1. The Technical Giants- These students play every crescendo, diminuendo, and ritardando.  They hold every fermata and they use the pedal correctly.  Each accent, staccato, and slur is delivered appropriately.  They are able to do this because they pay attention.  They are actually reading their music and looking for directions.  However, the music is not necessarily “in” them.  They play correctly, but there is a certain amount of feeling lacking because they are so technical.
2. The Feelers- These students play beautifully.  They often don’t notice dynamic markings.  Even so, they typically end up playing them correctly anyway, because they naturally know how a piece should sound.  However, because they don’t pay close attention to reading, they may get wrong notes and wrong rhythms.
3. The Note Champions- These students play every single note and rhythm correctly.  Often, they are so good at the notes, that they speed through every song.  However, they don’t seem to care about dynamics and articulation.  They even get frustrated when asked to notice and pay attention to such things.

Do you have students that fall into these categories?  Do you have other categories when it comes to students “feeling” the music?

I have been trying to help each student feel and understand the music better, and here are 6 suggestions that have been working in my studio.

1. Listen to recordings of instrumental music during lesson time.  Provide a wide variety of music for your student to hear.  If your student will go for it, discuss the music.  (Many of my students get antsy when we start to discuss anything).  Give incentives if your student listens to classical music at home.  Even if your student won’t discuss the music with you, at least she is getting an exposure to the “feeling” of music.
2. Talk about the background of a piece.  I had a “Note Champion” learning “Moonlight Sonata,” by Beethoven.  Every note was, of course, correct, but she pounded the keys, never slowed down, and didn’t change her dynamics at all.  I told her why Beethoven wrote the piece:  He had been in love with a girl and wanted to marry her.  Her father wouldn’t allow the marriage, and she had to marry somebody else instead.  Beethoven was so overcome with grief, and to cope, he composed.  “Moonlight Sonata” is the result of his depression and grief.  My “Note Champion” thought that was a cool story, and that allowed me to talk to her about the “feeling” of the piece.  I asked her how she thought it should sound, and then we went through the piece together, finding areas for crescendos, diminuendos, and ritardandos.  She played with much more feeling after that.
3. Encourage your students to compose.  Some of my students who refuse to pay attention to dynamic markings will play a piece they wrote with a surprising amount of feeling.  You can print free blank sheet music at www.blanksheetmusic.net
4. If there are lyrics in a piece, have the student read them out loud before playing the piece.  Ask your student to describe the feeling.  Then, ask him to read the lyrics with that feeling.  If the lyrics are about a galloping horse, ask him to read the lyrics fast and choppy.  If they are about a flowing river, ask him to try and connect his words to make them sound smooth.
5. Pay attention to what kind of music excites your student.  Then, search for that kind of music so you can adapt it into lessons.  The more they play what they like, the happier they will be with the piano.  And the more willing they will be to try and improve.
6. Expand your own abilities so you understand what it takes to do something unnatural.  For example, I am a terrible jazz pianist.  I am able to “feel” a classical or romantic piece, but when it comes to jazz, my playing just falls apart.  So I am playing some easy jazz, trying to get the “feel” of that type of music.  It gives me much more empathy for my struggling students!

Do you have more tips for helping your students develop “feeling” while they play?