Cultivating a personal style.

July 22, 2005 at 01:19 AM · Clearly, developing our own personal style is very important as we strive to become artists etc.

I heard said once by a pianist that by practicing something until it becomes NATURAL we can develop a personal stamp on our playing. I guess, since we are different, what feels and sounds natural to each individual varies, thus resulting it a personalised sound. Combined with physical aspects and our favourite violinists and their tone and sound.

Any views?

Replies (4)

Clarissa Ng

July 22, 2005 at 01:22 AM · Listen to different recordings of the same piece, try and copy what you like from those recordings into your playing and sooner or later, you'll start to develop your own style that feels natural to you. It might take some time and your style will bound to change and, hopefully, matures after a certain number of years.

Rick Basil

July 22, 2005 at 03:12 PM · I don't think you should try to copy what the recordings are doing... Only listen to them for inspiration.

Juergen L. Hemm

July 22, 2005 at 03:28 PM · Hi,

@Rick: couldn't agree more.

Probably, you'll develop your own style just by playing. Even if you'd try to copy somebody else, you'd always add something from your own musical personality (to say it in a positive way) or you'd fall short (to express it in a negative way).

Each player has a unique combination of bowing, vibrato (or non-), fingerings, small deviations in tempo/rhythm,... etc. that will be typical.

Probably it shouldn't be something contrived, but rather arrived at "naturally".

Bye, Juergen

Thomas Glew

July 22, 2005 at 04:47 PM · Good comments. I agree that even if one tries to sound like someone they admire, then they will end up sounding like themselves, whatever that consists of :)

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