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How to practice Bach

Updated: Mar 21, 2021

Bach's composition is very tricky to teach/play because there is no tempo/dynamics markings on the scores. It relies on a lot of understanding of the style of Baroque period's intrumental music and personal judgement, in terms of articulation, dynamics, hand balance and voicing. Knowledge of fugue structure and analysis is essential.


The good news is that to learn to play is absolutely achievable. All you need to do is to take it apart then put it together. Patience is the key. The result is unbelievably fruitful and satisfying. Not only it trains your fingers to be indepent from each other, it also trains your ears to differentiate voices. Fortunately I played many Bach inventions when I was young so now as an adult I am not too fearful to Baroque style.



When I said "taking it apart" it means cutting the compositions into groups of two bars, or cutting the composition into right hand only/or left only, or cutting the composition into three different minor pieces by voice, or cutting the composition by the harmonic structure; for example, exposition-development-final section. In short, you have to know it inside out! There is no way you can cut corners, for Bach! The complexity in the structure demands that much work to get it ready for performing, unfortunately.


At the same time, Bach gives a lot of freedom/flexibility for interpretation. Playing it in a romantic style can sound amazing too, in my opinion. The depth and width of the compostion makes it able to take so much.


Learning some Prelude and fugues are a must for any serious piano learner.





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