Honing the
Pianistic Self-Image

Honing the Pianistic Self-Image: Skeletal-Based Piano Technique

The Long-Awaited Sequel to The Craft of Piano Playing

The cutting edge in technique for advanced pianists that empowers amateurs and intermediates as well.

A New Evolution in Piano Technique

HONING THE PIANISTIC SELF-IMAGE is the follow-up to The Craft of Piano Playing, Alan Fraser’s comprehensive new approach to piano technique. Where Craft focused on the foundational security of the hand’s innate structure and function, Honing shows you how to take that structure up into a new, sophisticated state – unstable equilibrium – to gain an even finer control over the colours and emotion you produce at the piano.

You acquire an even greater freedom while losing none of your power, whose refinement actually increases through this process of functional evolution. Honing also relates unstable equilibrium in the hand to a similar state in the body, showing how a harmonious whole-body relationship to the field of gravity is a crucial support to the empowered hand on the keyboard.

Relates Feldenkrais Method to piano technique

The structure of Honing the Pianistic Self-Image is similar to its predecessor – explanatory text alternated with practical applications – and the link to Feldenkrais Method is even clearer in Honing than it was in Craft. Near the end of Honing you’ll find several full-length Awareness Through Movement lessons linking hand function to whole body organization.

Links musicianship to piano technique

Honing is not only about technique but musicianship as well – ‘physical’ chapters are balanced out by those dealing with specifically musical issues, where Fraser links the idea of skeletality to rhythm, phrasing, harmonic colour and orchestration.

Stellar illustrations

Sonya Ardan, Alan Fraser’s stellar artist from his earlier book, has once again turned her keen eye to sketching his hand in attitudes that evoke not just numerous unexplored possibilities for position, but also gesture – the hand in movement.

Take a peek inside this book...

Browse excerpts from Honing the Pianistic Self-Image, including detailed Tables of Contents, in our

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Maple Grove Music Productions (March 11, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 425 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8683535894
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8683535897
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds

Purchase here: Honing the Pianistic Self-Image: Skeletal-Based Piano Technique

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