CORRELATION BETWEEN PIANO PERFORMANCE ABILITY WITH RESPECT TO BIOMECHANICAL SKILLS AND THE AGE OF FIRST INSTRUCTION ON THE INSTRUMENT |
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Note: This paper was presented at a conference, citation information below. | |||
Ang, M., Soh, L.P. & Kho, T.M. (2000). “Correlation Between Piano Performance Ability With Respect To Biomechanical Skills And The Age Of First Instruction On The Instrument”. First International Music Technology Conference in Southeast Asia (MusTech Asia’2000). The Mines Beach Resort Hotel, Serdang, 16-18 March 2000. Proc. pp. 13-15. | |||
ABSTRACT 95 respondents from among Music Department students, including students minoring in music, as well as lecturers, all of whom have had formal training in playing the piano, participated in this study. Data was gathered through the use of an acoustic piano equipped with MIDI sensor devices. Participants were required to play a set of scales, ranging from 5 finger exercises to two octave scales. Duration and velocity data were analysed with the intention of studying the eveness of pianistic touch, with the assumption that the better the finger control, the more even the playing. Respondents were also required to fill in a survey questionnaire with regards to their piano learning history. Respondents results were then grouped according to 4 age-group categories: those who started learning the piano before the age of 6, those who started between 7 to 9 years old, 10 to 15 and after 16 years of age. Research findings indicate that candidates who begin piano lessons at the age of 6 and below are best able to achieve rhythmic accuracy in their playing, and for those who start later than 15, rhythmic accuracy is extremely difficult to achieve. Research findings also indicate that candidates who begin later than 15 have significantly weaker finger strengths compared with those who begin earlier, although consistency in finger strength is still achievable within these limitations if candidates regularly practise specific finger exercises. The complete paper is here. You will need the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. |