HELP!! I AM UNCAPABLE OF PLAYING WITH EMOTION

I am currently learning the song piece called "Greif and Sorrow" aka "Hokage's Funeral"
I am able to memorize 1/4 of the song, but the thing is, I cannot play how it is played in the original version!
When I listen back to my recording, its the right key but, for some reason, it just dont make me feel depress like how the
original version does.

raptors_back wrote:I am currently learning the song piece called "Greif and Sorrow" aka "Hokage's Funeral"
I am able to memorize 1/4 of the song, but the thing is, I cannot play how it is played in the original version!
When I listen back to my recording, its the right key but, for some reason, it just dont make me feel depress like how the
original version does.

Hi Try to look up one of Andrews lessons on how to perform!! Its on his YoutubeChannel...
That might help you!

One trick is to picture something sad, an image or a story and visualize when you play. Also I guess practicing the way you tuch the keys so you can control it even better is a great help... Im not sure, I feel I manage to play a piece how I want it so Im no expert on tips and tricks here!!

raptors_back wrote:I am currently learning the song piece called "Greif and Sorrow" aka "Hokage's Funeral"
I am able to memorize 1/4 of the song, but the thing is, I cannot play how it is played in the original version!
When I listen back to my recording, its the right key but, for some reason, it just dont make me feel depress like how the
original version does.

It is normal to not be "feeling" that a song sounds as good when you're playing it than when you're only "hearing" it. I often play improvs and record it, it doesn't feel like much when I play it, but after I record it I listen to it again and I think it sounds aloooot better than when I were actually playing. What I'm trying to say is, that when you're actually playing your mind is busy doing something else than enjoying the music =).

pianohama wrote:

raptors_back wrote:I am currently learning the song piece called "Greif and Sorrow" aka "Hokage's Funeral"
I am able to memorize 1/4 of the song, but the thing is, I cannot play how it is played in the original version!
When I listen back to my recording, its the right key but, for some reason, it just dont make me feel depress like how the
original version does.

It is normal to not be "feeling" that a song sounds as good when you're playing it than when you're only "hearing" it. I often play improvs and record it, it doesn't feel like much when I play it, but after I record it I listen to it again and I think it sounds aloooot better than when I were actually playing. What I'm trying to say is, that when you're actually playing your mind is busy doing something else than enjoying the music =).

But what he is saying it that he does Not like his recordings and that he feel they lack passion and feeling.

One major issue to become a Great pianist is to manage to hear how you play, when you play the piece. So that is probably something you have to practice also I guess if it dosnt come naturally

playing with emtion is a tough subject. Mainly because emotion itself sometimes doesn't come when you need it to. If your recordings aren't sounding good. Try to play the piece when you're sad, play it at night, play it when you first wake up. Also imagine the piece in your mind how you want it to be played, but DO NOT play the piece, keep thinking about it for about 3 days. Then after you go to play it, you'll need to release all these thoughts you've had in your head, and you should get a better performance.

Playing with emotion is all about accents. You play the same notes in the same order as the original song. The only thing sheet music doesn't tell you is the emotion. That's up to you.

Play along with the song. You'll learn which notes are soft, medium and hard. Eventually after a couple of... play-alongs you'll be able to change it into your own version.

The most important thing is that the song connects with you on SOME level. Doesn't matter which, there just has to be a connection. You said it should be depressing. To me, depressing includes:

forte/ff/mezzoforte low notes
Mezzopiano/mezzoforte middle notes
piano/pp high notes.

Accents are key. Tempo is important to. No one expects you to keep to the metronome exactly, so it's okay, infact it's good to stray away from it slightly but remember to get back to the beat. Speed things up, slow things down, play around with it and have fun. The quickest way to get to emotion is to just let go.

Close your eyes and picture the song in your head as you play. You don't need to picture physical objects or anything like that. I tend to picture songs as these kind of liquid, ethereal, Aurora-Borealis-type soundwaves that sort of undulate and fluctuate with the pitch. Let your body and hands flow with the rhythm. Listen to what it's trying to tell you and let the song guide you, but don't let it control you.

SinkingHigher wrote:Playing with emotion is all about accents. You play the same notes in the same order as the original song. The only thing sheet music doesn't tell you is the emotion. That's up to you.

Play along with the song. You'll learn which notes are soft, medium and hard. Eventually after a couple of... play-alongs you'll be able to change it into your own version.

The most important thing is that the song connects with you on SOME level. Doesn't matter which, there just has to be a connection. You said it should be depressing. To me, depressing includes:

forte/ff/mezzoforte low notes
Mezzopiano/mezzoforte middle notes
piano/pp high notes.

Accents are key. Tempo is important to. No one expects you to keep to the metronome exactly, so it's okay, infact it's good to stray away from it slightly but remember to get back to the beat. Speed things up, slow things down, play around with it and have fun. The quickest way to get to emotion is to just let go.

Close your eyes and picture the song in your head as you play. You don't need to picture physical objects or anything like that. I tend to picture songs as these kind of liquid, ethereal, Aurora-Borealis-type soundwaves that sort of undulate and fluctuate with the pitch. Let your body and hands flow with the rhythm. Listen to what it's trying to tell you and let the song guide you, but don't let it control you.

That's some good advice ^_^ You sound like a teacher. How long have you been studying piano?

A few months. I'm pretty noob. I heard this song I loved and I had to learn it, next thing I know I couldn't learn enough. At first I couldn't sightread so I had to play by ear, then eventually I learned to sightread. I'm on lesson 26 of your videos, so now I know about scales, arppegios, posture (which I just realised was a huge issue), and that stuff.

My goal is to be able to play level 10ish songs and improvise fluidly but I have no clue what level I'm at now.

Anyway, I'm an artist at heart so that's where that little peptalk came from.

Edit:

You're in BC?! No way! I was there a few months back. I'm in Calgary now. All this time I just assumed you lived somewhere in the U.S. I didn't pick up a Canadian accent :/

SinkingHigher wrote:A few months. I'm pretty noob. I heard this song I loved and I had to learn it, next thing I know I couldn't learn enough. At first I couldn't sightread so I had to play by ear, then eventually I learned to sightread. I'm on lesson 26 of your videos, so now I know about scales, arppegios, posture (which I just realised was a huge issue), and that stuff.

My goal is to be able to play level 10ish songs and improvise fluidly but I have no clue what level I'm at now.

Anyway, I'm an artist at heart so that's where that little peptalk came from.

Edit:

You're in BC?! No way! I was there a few months back. I'm in Calgary now. All this time I just assumed you lived somewhere in the U.S. I didn't pick up a Canadian accent :/

ahh! yes, i live in BC, Calgary isn't too far, maybe about 12 hour drive to PG.

Yes, you've got some good ways with words! Maybe a few years down the road you'll become a good piano teacher heh