Many students and parents can testify to my singing in piano lessons. I exaggerate beyond my actual natural talent to sing, to make points about phrasing, and rhythm, and mood. Actually, every music teacher I’ve had did this. In University, they encouraged it strongly, even though most of us were not voice majors. They do this, not only singing is great for you, but because it is one of the strongest ways to communicate a musical idea.
Why?
The voice is likely the first instrument any of us ever used. As a baby, we quickly learn what pitches (high or low), and dynamics (volume) work to communicate what we want to our guardians. Languages, although not necessarily musical to our ears, flow and move in pitches, rhythm, and dynamics. These aspects of sounds are what makes language so effective. How many different ways can you say the words “I Love You”? How many different meanings can you portray simply by changing your pitch, rhythm and dynamics?
I LOVE you, I love you?, I love you!, I loveeee you, i love you.
Our voice, is the instrument we are born with to communicate our ideas. Language, is what we created and learned to express the ideas. Music is no different.
Classical music, has historically been very influenced by how language flows. For instance, a song written in French would have different considerations from a song written in German. The words would flow differently, so the song would flow differently. In order for singers to express the ideas authentically, they must understand to some degree what is being sung.
How is this related to piano playing?
The way that the piano works, is that when a key is depressed, a hammer strikes a string inside the piano. This can be counter-intuitive to singing.
For example, when singing a high note, it is very natural for singers to become louder. This is generally because it requires more air to reach the higher notes. The opposite happens for lower notes. This also happens more naturally for instrument that require air control. However, on the piano, it is possible to play every note the same dynamic, since no air control is required.
This is why piano players must sing in their practice sessions and piano lessons. We must understand what it means to use breathing in our music, and to understand what natural phrasing is. The piano is an instrument, just like the voice, and needs to be played as such.
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Eric Ng (B.Mus, A.R.C.T , ECE ) is a piano teacher based in Richmond, B.C. Mr. Eric has taught in a variety of early childhood education styles, including Reggio-inspired, Montessori, Play-based, and Outdoor-based settings. Along with his formal classical music training from the RCM curriculum and the University of Victoria, Mr. Eric brings a unique perspective to teaching music to young children today.