Optimizing Pianism

Drawing on his wide expertise as a medical professional and active pianist, Cameron Roberts provides an understanding of how virtuosic piano playing works from an evidence-based, scientific perspective. Optimizing Pianism recognizes the diverse range of opinions about how technique can be taught while seeking to clarify, through evidence, how to differentiate fact from fiction, and more importantly, how to put into practice what is useful and not what is not.

The book addresses a central problem of misunderstanding in piano pedagogy: how the pianist's touch affects the piano tone. From a position of better understanding and objectification of how the touch-tone interaction works--based on physics, physiology, and psychology--the book describes a pathway and provides a framework to optimizing pianism through improved touch mechanics, more effective mental skills, and a more creative use of available musical elements. While an individual's belief about what is important in pianism influences what gets put into practice, it is the combination of the mechanical, mental, and musical realities that determine its overall performance. Improving these areas using evidence-based perspectives promotes playing that is effective and less prone to injury.