There are so many online piano masterclasses these days that it's quite difficult to choose the right one for you.
During the pandemic music institutions from local music school to international academies have organised online piano masterclasses as most of us were unable to travel.
So a question comes to mind:
Are online masterclasses a good way to improve your piano playing?
Let's see why it would be a good idea to attend an online masterclass.
Firstly, you will be able to receive feedback from a professional concert pianist, usually an expert in a specific composer or historical period, from the comfort of your home.
Secondly, you will have access to concert pianists who were not previously available to you. In a way the crisis has reduced the distance between artists and audiences.
Thirdly, a masterclass, whether online or in person, is an opportunity to learn a different approach to piano technique and interpretation.
Another important reason piano masterclasses are useful is that you will have a chance to perform in front of a public during a live streaming where viewers can share their comments. Even online live performances are part of perfecting your repertoire.
Finally, 'meeting' other pianists from different countries and with different backgrounds - even if just online - can be an enriching experience. You can exchange opinions on a particular piece, interpretation and learn how different pianists are approaching a specific repertoire. It's also a great opportunity to make new friends and find musicians you may want to work together in the future.
So how to choose the right online masterclass for you? Here are some tips:
find the one with a pianist you like and you want to receive feedback from on a specific repertoire
understand what platform they are using to make sure audio and video is of good quality
check what the requirements are in terms of software and tools including what microphones and cameras are needed
find the one right for your budget as some masterclasses can be quite pricey
find the one that suits your schedule and time zone as you don't want to attend a masterclass in the middle of the night
choose one that provides you with more than one lesson and the opportunity to play at the end of the masterclass.
In our next post we will highlight the negative elements of online piano masterclasses.
Stay tuned for more!
What is your view on online piano masterclasses?
Have you attended one this year?
How did you find it?
What platform did you use?
Please feel free to share your comments.
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