MASTERING PERFORMANCE SKILLS OF CHORAL CONDUCTING STUDENTS’ COLLABORATIVE PIANIST: INTERPRETATION OF CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL SCORES

Abstract

The article covers a perennial teaching experience of a collaborative pianist working with choral conducting students at The Gnesins Russian Academy of Music. Knowledge and skills required for self-mastery in view of concert and music teaching activities, as well as work on original piano compositions are discussed. It is stressed that the accompanist should first get immersed into the poetic text of a choral score, understand and emphasize its major semantic meaning and spirit. The role of pre-hearing is outlined, its helping a pianist to interpret the music being played properly. Some musical examples are given, demonstrating timbrally nuanced, deep, surround sound. The collaborative pianist’s work concerning choral and orchestral scores is analyzed; the conclusions are made on mastering piano skills in producing sound and articulation by approaching creatively towards studying musical texts.