Pianists often perform as soloists, which is how we typically study the instrument. Private piano instruction is the most popular way to learn, but there are some fundamental performance skills that can be left out of this format.
Performance Skills that Piano Students Learn from Duet Lessons
1. Thorough and accurate counting. Nothing will convince two students that they need to actively count like playing a duet together. A student playing a duet with another student can be totally derailed by a counting mistake, so students learn to count while they play. They also learn the importance of maintaining a steady tempo. If one performer rushes while the other has a difficult part, then someone might stumble in the performance.
2. How to communicate with other musicians. Musicians need to communicate, although depending on their musical experiences, they may communicate differently. In duet lessons, students learn how to communicate while beginning and ending a piece together, and at particular points throughout the piece.
3. Being prepared for each other. Students learn the importance of preparing and practicing for particular goals for their partner. They may need to practice a particular section, or practice at a set tempo, in order to have a more productive duet lesson.
4. Actively listening while playing. Musicians need to be able to respond to the moment, so they need to stay focused and listen to what everyone else is playing. If they or their duet partner makes a mistake, they need to listen to each other to get back on track quickly. They also need to listen to tempo and dynamics, in order to create sound space for their partner. For example, who has the lead? Who should play more quietly, and who should bring out their part for a dynamic performance?
5. Performance doesn’t have to happen alone. One of the best parts about playing a duet is experiencing performance with a partner. Making music with others is one of the most rewarding parts of playing an instrument.
Contact me if you have any interest or questions about finding a duet partner for piano lessons.