Thursday, September 20, 2012

How Did I Get Here?

When I play I want to know what causes every single sound to come into being, not in terms of fingering, but in terms of the continuity or discontinuity of vibration. 

Continuity is vital because when overtones melt together we have pure legato, which is a terribly difficult technique to master when considered as simply a technique to master. 

Discontinuity is equally vital because energizing shorter or longer spaces between sounds can be as amusing as pronouncing my favorite word: Edward Lear's com-bob-u-lous, as in combobulous cauliflower

Play with it: it will teach you something you didn't know you needed to learn.