8 Responses for "How do I play the piano (or any instrument) with "feeling"?"

1. !@#$%^&* December 4th, 2009 at 4:34 pm 1

   get some sunglasses and bang on the piano and throw your head back and forth a lot
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   lol

2. BUSTER BENDEM December 4th, 2009 at 4:44 pm 2

   study Barbra Streisand intently.
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3. Human Spider December 4th, 2009 at 4:59 pm 3

   You can play with mechanical perfection and still not have feeling. Feeling enters in when you play the music as a communication. It’s like you are playing the guitar to someone the same way you would sing to them. Of course, if it’s an emotion you want to communicate, this will do even better. It can be done. Music IS a communication. It’s not a mechanical exercise.
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4. Snezzy December 4th, 2009 at 5:25 pm 4

   Technically, it’s use of rubato and variation of loudness that give you the feeling. Easy to say, hard to describe.

   Think of it like this: It’s Christmas season now, and you’re likely to hear "Silent Night" or "O Come Emmanuel" being performed. Imagine what they would be like if arranged to sound as if being played by a very strict and boring computer. Normally when we sing them, we prolong certain syllables to a degree that’s not exactly what’s shown on the sheet music. Regarding the words, "Rejoice, rejoice" in Emmanuel, check out a recording (or sing it yourself) and notice how the first is sung fff, the second mf and a trifle slower.

   Practice playing your music (and that of others) with all kinds of variations of tempo, even to the point of sounding weird or stupid. Do all this over and over in your practice room, all alone, before you invite anyone to listen. You’ll need to educate your own ear to hear this quality called feeling. It will take time, and then suddenly you’ll "get" it.
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5. FiyeroFan717 December 4th, 2009 at 6:05 pm 5

   Everyone, no matter what instrument, plays with feeling differently. There’s no set definition or way to tell you how to do it. But I can try to help better explain it.

   You play with feeling whenever you go BEYOND just playing the notes and rhythms. With your songs, try to tell a story with the music, think of something while playing. If the song is sad, make up a sad story to go with it and try to explain it in your playing. Make it flow, make it move. Be a story teller without the words. It takes a long time to be able to play with feeling. You’ll have to go out of your comfort zone and express yourself. Last year at a solo and ensemble festival I had to play a clarinet solo that needed a LOT of expression, and i wasn’t very good at expression. but my lesson teacher made me do it so i could learn it. Try experimenting with different techniques. If you can play all that you play perfectly, then you’ll do fine learning expression.
   References :
   6+ years of playing clarinet
   13+ years of musical experience
   play piano on the side

6. squishysaar December 4th, 2009 at 6:49 pm 6

   maybe ur family and friends tell you that u dont play with "feeling" because they may notice that ur concentrating alot to play it perfect.

   i believe playing with feeling is letting urself go. playing with closed eyes and passion and letting the music take u away.
   its playing whatever comes from ur heart.

   =]
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7. littlejaz356 December 4th, 2009 at 7:06 pm 7

   To borrow some old computer lingo for a minute, feeling is another of those simple "end user" concepts that is actually rooted in hidden "machine language" complexity.

   Key elements in "feeling" are connectivity of notes, dynamics (loud and soft), phrasing and tempo.

   On piano, as with other instruments, the two primary connectivity options are legato (where you try to connect notes) and staccato (where they are almost brittle in their separateness).

   When dynamics are used, some passages are louder while others are softer. Experiment with music that gradually grows louder or softer.

   Phrasing is a way of combining notes so they resemble spoken word patterns, especially the telling of a story or persuading someone about how you feel. Frank Sinatra was the ultimate phrasing genius.

   Tempo is how fast or slow you play. IMHO it is the most over-rated of all the elements. Sure, you can slow down or speed up to make a point, but this late in the game it’s been overdone to the point where it is corny and hokey.

   The more you experiment with these elements, the more you expand your range of expression. Take a ballad and turn it into a heavy rocker, take a jazz tune and make it country, take a classical theme and make it a rap tune. Did you know that Barry Manilow’s ballad Mandy started out as an up tempo rocker?

   Ironically, when those same nay-sayers start applauding your improved "feeling," it will be because you’ve expanded your technical skills. We won’t tell. "If it tastes good, don’t tell them it’s good for them."
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8. ineedyou22 December 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pm 8

   All you have to do is "lose yourself" in the music. When you really get into it, all you think about is playing. You’re not stiff and mechanical, but flowing. You don’t play the music, you ARE the music.
   This should come easier to you if you don’t think about it, and also because you wrote the music yourself. When playing, think about what you meant when you wrote it. That will give you feeling…
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   Piano experience for 12 years, flute for 8 years, harmonica 1 year and my music teacher!