When most people refer to technique, they are addressing issues such as how to use your fingers, hands and arms, how to find the right notes and how to accurately play each passage. Although these issues are important and should properly be taught to a young student, there comes a point in one's studies where finding the right notes is no longer enough. What separates a good pianist from a great one is his/her ability to inflict the right tone, touch and colour. A pianist could play all the right notes as quickly and as accurately as possible but if there is no emotion or variety in tone and colour, the speed and precision is not nearly as great as it could be.
Tobias Matthay is well known for his writings and lectures discussing piano technique. He addresses all issues from proper arm, hand and finger movement, to weight distribution and muscle usage. Yet, I found his writings on colour and tone variety to be particularly interesting. I find that colour and tone quality is......
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