Musical technique is the ability ofinstrumental andvocal musicians to exert optimal control of their instruments orvocal cords in order to produce the precise musical effects they desire. Improving one's technique generally entails practicing exercises that improve one's muscular sensitivity and agility. Technique is independent ofmusicality.[citation needed]Compositional technique is the ability and knowledgecomposers use to create music, and may be distinguished frominstrumental orperformance technique, which inclassical music is used to realizecompositions, but may also be used inmusical improvisation.Extended techniques are distinguished from more simple and more common techniques. Musical technique may also be distinguished frommusic theory, in that performance is a practical matter, but study of music theory is often used to understand better and to improve techniques. Techniques such asintonation ortimbre,articulation, andmusical phrasing are nearly universal to all instruments.
To improve their technique, musicians often practiceear training. For example,musical intervals, and fundamental patterns and ofnotes such as thenatural,minor,major, andchromatic scales,minor andmajor triads,dominant anddiminished sevenths, formula patterns andarpeggios. For example,triads andsevenths teach how to playchords with accuracy and speed.Scales teach how to move quickly and gracefully from one note to another (usually by step). Arpeggios teach how to play broken chords over larger intervals. Many of these components of music are found in difficult compositions, for example, a largetuplechromatic scale is a very common element toClassical andRomantic era compositions as part of the end of a phrase.
Tuning is a musical technique which is performed directly before nearly all instruments are used (evenunpitched percussion instruments are often tuned), so it is often taught to students at the beginning of study of most instrumentals. Different instruments require varying techniques. For example,string instruments requirefingering technique, whilebowed string instruments require bow technique.Brass andwoodwind instruments requiremouthing techniques (correct positioning and shaping of the mouth and proper breathing), while woodwind instruments often require fingering technique, brass instruments often have simpler fingering than woodwinds but require a basic understanding of theharmonic series. Musical technique is often related to physical memory, such as correctposition andstopping on a string instrument, positioning of thetromboneslide, memorizingguitar chords' andpiano chords' fingering, and the proper position and shape of one's mouth for brass and woodwind instruments.
Heinrich Schenker argued that musical technique's "most striking and distinctive characteristic" isrepetition.[1]
Works known asétudes (meaning "study") are also frequently used for the improvement of technique.
In an interview at theKronberg academyMstislav Rostropovich was asked the following question directly about whether musicality and musical technique are separate issues to be worked separately "Do you think that in teaching repertoire and technical issues, they should be separate things, or did you always combine both things working musically and technically at the same time?" Rostropovich responded with the following(partial quote, see video link below for full answer to question):
"...if you know which kind of sound you must produce for this composition, your muscles automatically play what is needed for that. Because your brain dictates to your muscles much better than your teacher dictates to you. Sometimes of course I must make something technically more precise, but most important [is] your idea, how you must play in your brain."[2]
Alexander Markov is quoted as saying:
"See I always felt about the music and the technical aspect of it, to me it's very much together, because I know some musicians, some violinists they isolate the technical aspect from playing violin and the music itself, but to me they work hand in hand so much. So for example, the more I get involved musically the more technically I am accurate."[2]
Pamela Frank is quoted as saying:
"Practicing technique separate from music, I really don't believe in--the way you play is the way you have practiced. If you have practiced mechanically, you will play mechanically. If you treat a scale like a great melody, when it shows up in the Beethoven concerto it will be a great melody."[2]
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| Wind instruments | |
| Piano | |
| Bowed string instruments | |
| Guitar | |
| Harp | |
| Percussion | |
| Human voice | |
| Related articles | |
