Piano Performance Research Articles

The origins of piano performance in Podillia

The article analyzes the socio-cultural features of the development of Podillia's piano performance. It is noted that piano art is an important part of domestic musical culture. Indicated that the study and generalization of the experience of the past allows a holistic consideration of the radical transformations of modern musical art in general, and piano performance in particular. Features of the development of Podillia's piano performance are considered in the works of N. Kashkadamova, O. Lihus, Yu. Portnyi and others. Piano performance preserves rich experience and cultural traditions of domestic musical art. The authors draw attention to the fact that the birth and improvement of Ukrainian piano art took place under the influence of socio-cultural and geopolitical conditions of the ХІХ-ХХ centuries and involved the synthesis of the creative language of Ukrainian and foreign piano schools. It is noted that Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Kamianets-Podilskyi are cities in which piano performance in Podillya actively developed. It was determined that during this period one of the foci of development of piano performance in the Podil region were the newly established educational institutions. A. Kotsipinskyi, V. Zaremba, M. Zavadskyi, T. Ganytskyi and others were famous cultural figures who promoted the development of piano performance in Podillia. Their creative achievements intensified the development of piano performance in this region. It is noted that the expansion of Podillia's piano performance opportunities was also initiated by various musical projects, festivals, and competitions held in Vinnytsia. An important event in the cultural life of Vinnytsia was the holding of a series of concerts «History of the development of piano art». Organized by the piano department of the Vinnytsia School, this cycle of concerts was diversified by various pieces of music of different styles and genres.

Enhancing International Mindset in English Classes at a Japanese Music College: Impact of Integrating Documentary Photography and Piano Performance

This study explores the impact of an innovative Japanese music college workshop incorporating documentary photography and piano performance to foster the students’ international mindset. In today’s globalized society, it is becoming increasingly crucial to facilitate intercultural exchange and mutual understanding. Harnessing the power of music presents an opportunity to bridge cultural divides, and this approach may be particularly beneficial within the unique cultural context of Japan. In high-context cultures like Japan, students may not always recognize the potential information gap between themselves and others. This information gap can lead to implicit communication, obstructing a comprehensive understanding of conveyed messages. Although previous research offers models and theories regarding intercultural receptivity and communication skills, there is a lack of studies focusing on the effects and methodologies of workshops blending documentary photography and piano performance, specifically within Japanese music colleges. Therefore, the present study conducts such a workshop and assesses its effectiveness by analyzing English reports from second-year students participating in the mandatory English class at a Japanese music college. The students’ level of English proficiency is CEFR A2. The assessment focuses on whether participants, from a low-context cultural perspective, can effectively express their individuality through originality by recognizing the differences in their information compared to others based on the information they acquire during the workshop. The results demonstrate an overall increase in students’ international awareness, with particularly high-performing students showcasing a deep understanding and insightful perspectives on the situation in Ukraine. This research aims to provide practical insights and directions for educators at Japanese music colleges to more meaningfully and effectively incorporate such workshops within their English curriculum.

Calming effects of repetition in music for children with sensory sensitivities: Findings from two experimental studies

Sensory sensitivity and anxiety are often experienced by neurodivergent children. Repetitive physical actions are a common way to self-regulate and reduce anxiety, yet stigma attached to these actions can discourage people with sensory sensitivities from participating in public events such as concerts. Children with sensory sensitivities therefore often miss out on the social benefits of attending live concerts. This paper reports the results of two studies (for each N = 20) investigating whether the predictability/level of internal repetition in classical music can be calming for Australian children aged 5–14 with sensory sensitivities. Study 1 utilized a one-on-one laboratory setting with live piano performance (two low repetition pieces, two high repetition pieces), whereas Study 2 used a group performance setting with a live cello performance (one low repetition piece, one high repetition piece). Proxy measures of anxiety and engagement were completed by parents/carers in both studies, and facial expressions and finger oximeter measures were also captured in Study 1. Across the two studies both music types had a calming effect compared to baseline, with Study 2 also indicating significantly higher interest, involvement, and enjoyment levels for high repetition music. These findings have implications for the use of music for children with sensory sensitivities in arts programming and therapeutic contexts.

Probing the underlying principles of dynamics in piano performances using a modelling approach.

Variations in dynamics are an essential component of musical performance in most instruments. To study the factors that contribute to dynamic variations, we used a model approaching, allowing for determination of the individual contribution of different musical features. Thirty monophonic melodies from 3 stylistic eras with all expressive markings removed were performed by 20 pianists on a Disklavier piano. The results indicated a relatively high agreement among the pianists (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). The overall average dynamics (across pianists) could be predicted quite well using support vector regression (R2 = 66%) from a set of 48 score-related features. The highest contribution was from pitch-related features (37.3%), followed by phrasing (12.3%), timing (2.8%), and meter (0.7%). The highest single contribution was from the high-loud principle, whereby higher notes were played louder, as corroborated by the written feedback of many of the pianists. There were also differences between the styles. The highest contribution from phrasing, for example, was obtained from the Romantic examples, while the highest contribution from meter came from the Baroque examples. An analysis of each individual pianist revealed some fundamental differences in approach to the performance of dynamics. All participants were undergraduate-standard pianists or above; however, varied levels of consistency and predictability highlighted challenges in acquiring a reliable group in terms of expertise and preparation, as well as certain pianistic challenges posed by the task. Nevertheless, the method proved useful in disentangling some underlying principles of musical performance and their relation to structural features of the score, with the potential for productive adaptation to a wider range of expressive and instrumental contexts.

Psychometric properties and standard-setting study of the Piano Performance Test for prospective teachers

El objetivo de este estudio era investigar las propiedades psicométricas del test de Interpretación de Piano para Profesores de Enseñanza Primaria y realizar un estudio de fijación de estándares para esta escala. Este estudio incluyó tres grupos de participantes: estudiantes (n=100), calificadores (n=2) utilizados para comprobar las características psicométricas de la prueba de rendimiento en instrumentos musicales y expertos (n=6) para el estudio de fijación de estándares de la prueba. En este estudio, los investigadores desarrollaron una prueba de interpretación musical y una rúbrica analítica. Los resultados mostraron que la estructura de un factor era adecuada para la prueba de ejecución de instrumentos musicales, que explicaba el 66% de la varianza total. El coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach mostró que la consistencia interna de la escala era aceptable (.83). Además, los estudios de generalizabilidad y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase indicaron una excelente fiabilidad de la escala por parte de los evaluadores. Los resultados del análisis de discriminación de ítems muestran que la prueba de interpretación de instrumentos musicales es capaz de discriminar entre participantes con niveles altos y bajos de habilidad para tocar el piano.

Psychometric properties and standard-setting study of the Piano Performance Test for prospective teachers

El objetivo de este estudio era investigar las propiedades psicométricas del test de Interpretación de Piano para Profesores de Enseñanza Primaria y realizar un estudio de fijación de estándares para esta escala. Este estudio incluyó tres grupos de participantes: estudiantes (n=100), calificadores (n=2) utilizados para comprobar las características psicométricas de la prueba de rendimiento en instrumentos musicales y expertos (n=6) para el estudio de fijación de estándares de la prueba. En este estudio, los investigadores desarrollaron una prueba de interpretación musical y una rúbrica analítica. Los resultados mostraron que la estructura de un factor era adecuada para la prueba de ejecución de instrumentos musicales, que explicaba el 66% de la varianza total. El coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach mostró que la consistencia interna de la escala era aceptable (.83). Además, los estudios de generalizabilidad y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase indicaron una excelente fiabilidad de la escala por parte de los evaluadores. Los resultados del análisis de discriminación de ítems muestran que la prueba de interpretación de instrumentos musicales es capaz de discriminar entre participantes con niveles altos y bajos de habilidad para tocar el piano.

The Expression of Sound Art in Piano Performance

For piano performers, they should apply extensive literary cultivation, conduct in-depth research and understanding of musical works, and then play touching melodies through reasonable playing methods, allowing both the audience and the performer to experience pleasure and generate some associations and imagination, thus realizing the emotions and philosophies that the composer wants to express in music, and achieving the goal of cultivating sentiment. n this essay an attempt has been made to consider the English novel historically. Its principle aim, however, is to help us, English majors, to become more aware of the variety of the novel as a form of literature, of the pleasure it has to offer, and of the interpretative skills which a careful reading of novels may help to develop. Through the general recognition of novels, especially British novels, English majors may have a systematical study, which will make their study more effectively.

The Principles and Techniques of Artur Schnabel’s Performance of the Piano Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven

The piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) represent the highest achievement of the First Viennese School in modern piano performance. The complexity and depth of the stage interpretation requires the study of the composer’s music based on its performance specifics. The study of the features of the piano sonata works by Beethoven on the example of performances by Artur Schnabel, one of the most prominent pianists of the twentieth century, will enrich modern knowledge about the style of Beethoven’s piano works. The objectives of the paper are to characterize the genre and stylistic features of Beethoven’s sonata works and to study the performing features of the German composer’s sonatas in Schnabel’s interpretation. Rationalistic approach is not typical for Schnabel’s interpretation of Beethoven’s sonatas. On the contrary, his performance has romantic features in terms of strength and depth of feeling but is classical in terms of the proportionality of expressive means. His performance impresses with its philosophical orientation and epic spirit. What is especially important to him in the musical composition is an individual approach to the intonation of recitatives, cadences, syncopation, and those stylistic components of playing that form an original interpretation of Beethoven’s music. Schnabel embodies Beethoven’s concepts on the basis of integrity, starting from the epic characteristics of Beethoven’s work

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MUSIC THERAPY USING PIANO AND CHORUS TEACHING METHOD TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ABILITY AND SOCIAL BARRIERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Autism in children is an abnormality of pervasive developmental disorder caused by biological factors, mainly manifested by social disorders, language disorders, and behavioural problems. After years of music therapy research and practical teaching, the author found that piano performance and choral singing can help autistic children improve their language skills and social disorders. This paper uses quantitative research methods. Data sampling and experimental investigation were conducted on 256 teachers at Chengdu Autism Institution who used piano and choral pedagogy in music therapy to improve language ability and treat social disorders in children. By using SPSS and through the comparative analysis of data before and after the experiment, study the intervention effect of using piano and choral pedagogy in music therapy for children with autism on improving language ability and treating social disorders in children with autism. This study found that using this method greatly affects the improvement of language ability and social impairment in children with autism.

Retracted: The Timbre Relationship between Piano Performance Skills and Piano Combined with Opera Music Elements in the Context of the Internet of Things

Retracted: The Timbre Relationship between Piano Performance Skills and Piano Combined with Opera Music Elements in the Context of the Internet of Things

Ethnic music heritage in college piano teaching based on adaptive differential evolutionary algorithm

Abstract This paper uses an adaptive differential evolution algorithm to handle multiple conflicting optimization objectives by randomly generating uniformly distributed values corresponding to the upper and lower bounds so that the variance vectors are crossed over. A diversity metric measures the degree of uniformity of distribution between solutions, using a pre-given interval of static variables and introducing a special differential mutation pattern for iteration. The highest value of the adaptive differential evolution algorithm piano performance time was 13.5 s, and the highest value of the teaching quality situation was 0.864. With the adaptive differential evolution algorithm, the piano teaching content can be enhanced, students' interest in folk music can be nurtured, and folk music can be inherited and promoted.

Retracted: Construction of Virtual Piano Performance System Based on Visual Gesture Recognition

Retracted: Construction of Virtual Piano Performance System Based on Visual Gesture Recognition

Generating Fingerings for Piano Music with Model-Based Reinforcement Learning

The piano fingering annotation task refers to assigning finger labels to notes in piano sheet music. Good fingering helps improve the smoothness and musicality of piano performance. In this paper, we propose a method for automatically generating piano fingering using a model-based reinforcement learning algorithm. We treat fingering annotation as a partial constraint combinatorial optimization problem and establish an environment model for the piano performance process based on prior knowledge. We design a reward function based on the principle of minimal motion and use reinforcement learning algorithms to decide the optimal fingering combinations. Our innovation lies in establishing a more realistic environment model and adopting a model-based reinforcement learning approach, compared to model-free methods, to enhance the utilization of samples. We also propose a music score segmentation method to parallelize the fingering annotation task. The experimental section shows that our method achieves good results in eliminating physically impossible fingerings and reducing the amount of finger motion required in piano performance.

Analysis of the Construction and Course Effectiveness of the Online Course Platform for College Piano in the Background of the Internet

Abstract Internet technology continues to develop and deepen, course learning methods present diversity, and piano courses are an important way for colleges and universities to carry out students’ musical quality training. In this paper, we first propose a behavioral sequence analysis method for predicting students’ online course performance in the context of the Internet for college piano online courses. The sequence-based prediction task is divided into two stages in total. In the first stage, the sequence characteristics of students’ online course learning behaviors are predicted by mining the potential expressions of the implicit layer through deep RNN. In the second stage, the support vector machine is used to create an optimal segmentation hyperplane. The SPC two-stage classifier is able to predict student course grades in order to identify students with learning crises in time. Then a layered MVC model is used to design the university piano online course platform system. Finally, the performance of the platform and the effectiveness of the course were tested. When the number of concurrent users reached 150, the success rate of the server in processing transactions remained at about 96%, and the pre-test and post-test of students’ piano scores showed that the mean value of score-reading skills was 34.32 in the pre-test and 45.63 in the post-test, with a mean value improvement of 11.31. The study showed that the online course client had high operational performance and the online course could effectively the study shows that the online lesson client has high performance and the online lessons is effective in improving the students’ piano performance.

An empirical analysis of the evolution of piano performance skills based on big data

Abstract The current hotspots of empirical analysis of piano performance skills mainly focus on the recognition of single notes, and there are some limitations in recognition accuracy and noise resistance performance. In this paper, to address this problem, firstly, on the basis of big data, we propose to realize the segmentation of the music section and noise section based on the single-port limit energy difference method and perform note onset and stop detection for the music section based on LMS adaptive filtering algorithm, using the musical characteristics of piano to identify the energy jumping point, which effectively improves the accuracy of note onset and stop detection and avoids the situation of missing and wrong diagnosis. Then the piano piece was played as an example, and the scientific evaluation of the piano performance skills was made based on the results of the determination of note types. The results showed that the errors of the eight notes of the piece were 0.9%, 0.30%, 0.24%, 0.28%, 0.34%, 0.11%, 0.63% and 0.28%. The correct rate of determining the types of notes in the performance technique of the music was 100%, and the error of determining all notes was controlled within 1%. This study provides a reference standard for evaluating the quality of music performance and has broad application prospects in the fields of family leisure, music tutoring, etc.

The Evolution of Piano Technique and Its Impact on Modern Chinese Piano Development: A Theoretical Exploration

This paper explores the development of the piano in modern China, focusing on its role in Chinese music education, performance, and composition. With the introduction of Western music and culture, the piano gradually became an integral part of Chinese musical culture. The study investigates the factors influencing the development of the modern Chinese piano, including social history, cultural environment, and the music education system. The research employs a literature review methodology to analyze the evolution and changes in theories of modern Chinese piano development, as well as the significant theoretical perspectives and academic ideas associated with them. The study examines the historical background, cultural environment, piano performance techniques, teaching methods, and the contributions of Chinese piano composers and musicians. The findings highlight the importance of studying modern Chinese piano development theory for piano education and performance. The research aims to deepen the understanding and application of relevant theories, fostering innovation and improvement in piano art. Furthermore, the exploration of piano development theories promotes the preservation and transmission of Chinese music culture, enhances academic research, and facilitates international exchange in the field of Chinese music. The study concludes that the continuous study of technical theory is crucial for the development of the piano in China. The improvement of current technical theory serves as a catalyst for advancing Chinese piano art and strengthens the preservation and transmission of Chinese musical cultural heritage. The findings provide theoretical guidance for piano teaching and performance practice, contributing to the continuous advancement of piano art in China.

Combining piano performance dimensions for score difficulty classification

Predicting the difficulty of playing a musical score is essential for structuring and exploring score collections. Despite its importance for music education, the automatic difficulty classification of piano scores is not yet solved, mainly due to the lack of annotated data and the subjectiveness of the annotations. This paper aims to advance the state-of-the-art in score difficulty classification with two major contributions. To address the lack of data, we present Can I Play It? (CIPI) dataset, a machine-readable piano score dataset with difficulty annotations obtained from the renowned classical music publisher Henle Verlag. The dataset is created by matching public domain scores with difficulty labels from Henle Verlag, then reviewed and corrected by an expert pianist. As a second contribution, we explore various input representations from score information to pre-trained ML models for piano fingering and expressiveness inspired by the musicology definition of performance. We show that combining the outputs of multiple classifiers performs better than the classifiers on their own, pointing to the fact that the representations capture different aspects of difficulty. In addition, we conduct numerous experiments that lay a foundation for score difficulty classification and create a basis for future research. Our best-performing model reports a 39.5% balanced accuracy and 1.1 median square error across the nine difficulty levels proposed in this study. Code, dataset, and models are made available for reproducibility.

Work of Ukrainian Composers in Concert and Performance Practice of Pianists of the Canadian Diaspora in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century

The purpose of the work is to highlight the main milestones of the concert performance activities of pianists of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada in the second half of the twentieth century; to reveal the palette of their repertoire; to outline the role of Ukrainian composers in the performing heritage of emigrant pianists. The research methodology is based on the following scientific approaches: chronological, which allows the author to consider the artistic activity of pianists of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada in a chronological sequence; specific search, which consists in studying the literature on related topics; subject-targeted analysis of the concert and performance atmosphere in the diaspora, which helped to trace the individual performance style of emigrant pianists and the palette of their concert repertoire. The scientific novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive study of the main aspects of the performing creativity of pianists of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada in the second half of the twentieth century, mainly in clarifying the role of the Ukrainian composers in their repertoire; for the first time, the concert and performance achievements of pianists Roman Stetsura and Stefania Zhovnir-Klos, little-known in Ukraine, were analysed. Conclusions. Having analysed the concert activities of Ukrainian pianists of different generations, it can be argued that the creative and performing activities of artists of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada have made a significant contribution to the development of the musical culture of Ukraine, as its representatives have made great efforts to preserve and popularise the national musical art in a multicultural environment. A vivid evidence of this is the inclusion in their performance repertoire of works by composers of different eras: from D. Bortnianskyi and M. Lysenko, to examples of the musical creativity of contemporary masters – B. Filts, E. Stankovych, M. Skoryk, H. Liashenko, O. Krasotov, Zh. Kolodub, L. Dychko, with whom the pianists worked closely. Key words: Ukrainian diaspora of Canada, piano performance, Ukrainian composers, repertoire, concert performances.

Study of Intelligent Innovation Path for Distance Learning of Piano Performance Majors from the Perspective of Big Data

As a cutting-edge technology in contemporary times, big data technology has brought new vitality into the field of distance learning of the piano performance. Its enormous potential and value are reflected in the optimization and improvement of existing distance learning models. Through big data technology, the piano performance education can achieve personalized learning and accurately connect with the unique needs and learning characteristics of different students. In addition, in the piano performance education model, teachers can conduct targeted teaching based on the actual situation of students, making teaching differentiation be possible and improving teaching effectiveness. The big data technology also helps to improve the quality of the teaching team and enhance the teaching level and professional competence of teachers. To ensure that the distance learning of the piano performance truly enters the era of intelligence, it is necessary to actively cultivate the big data awareness of relevant personnel, build a diversified and professional teaching team, and build an intelligent learning platform.

Öğrenme Stratejilerinin Piyano Performansı Öz Yeterlik Düzeyi ve Performans Başarısına Etkisi

This study aimed to determine the effect of using learning strategies on piano performance self-efficacy levels and performance success among piano students. The study group comprised first year students (n = 20) receiving piano course in the fall semester of the 2019–2020 academic year in the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts, Program of Education Music Education. The study used an experimental research design and data were collected using the Self-Efficacy Scale of Piano Performance and an observation form. The study results indicated that there were significant differences in favor of the experimental group regarding piano performance success, comparing the post-test scores of the experimental group, in which activities were performed for the use of learning strategies in piano course, and the control group, which received education in a regular process. However, no statistically significant difference was found between piano performance self-efficacy levels of the experimental and control groups. The study revealed that the use of learning strategies in piano education did not play a role in the piano performance self-efficacy level, but that it was much more effective in increasing students’ piano performance success than the existing process-based education.