By
Jeffrey Cappelli. January 5, 2004.
Each semester the Cappelli Institute of Music offers an Adult Class Recital. At our July 2003 Adult Recital, attending students and friends were treated to works from piano and voice. Although I am a pianist, I was reminded again that the voice is our natural instrument and that it may very well be, that in singing we find the natural shapes and designs for music. This is true for any instrument. “Singing” the music, irrespective of the given instrument, helps us to project and shape flowing phrases.
Piano students often feel that there is so much to do, between finding and deciphering notes and chords, locating everything properly on the piano keyboard, possibly working in a little pedal, etc. With all these “distractions,” it is all too frequent that we neglect the singing essence of music. I often urge students to count and sing beats as melodic tones. I believe that this is an effective way to merge the necessity of counting and simultaneously apply thought to the musical shape that is being created, as we play. After all, music is what we find “beyond the notes.” The symbols before us on the page are merely that... symbols. Like a recipe the combination of these symbols or ingredients must be done properly and skillfully for the end result to be a good one. Diligent students find beautifully conceived melodies and harmonies beyond the notes. When we are fortunate enough to acquire the skills necessary to work with Mozart, Chopin, Bartok or any number of fine composers, we will find structures and shapes that are as beautiful and majestic as architecture, as vivid as a painting, and as moving as poetry. When we “realize” the notes properly we find the gold at the end of the rainbow.
Young students must take a disciplined approach to learning music. At the Institute we stress genuine note reading and accurate rhythmic skills. Beginners should master basic note reading skills by working with the lines and spaces of each clef. Often a notespeller book will help in this regard. A logical next step is development and skillful use of dynamics. After that we can move into connecting and projecting notes which articulate the music’s texture. As we master these skills it becomes progressively easier to move beyond notes and into the real beauty and power of music.
