Ben Laude: Ask Me Anything about Piano Technique!
We are kicking off this new Community feature with our own Ben Laude! You know him as an outstanding pianist and pedagogue, and, of course, as Head of Piano here at tonebase, where he has produced and appeared in countless video lessons and interviews with the many dozens of world class pianists on the Artist Roster!
As he'll be the first to tell you, Ben was no prodigy; and without proper technical training, he had to solve his physical problems at the instrument the hard way. A long-time student of piano technique, Ben has researched a variety of technical schools of thought developed over the past century and is always experimenting with them in practice.
For tonebase, he has collaborated on video courses with technique specialists from Penelope Roskell to Seymour Bernstein, and is currently in the process of releasing a multi-part video series on how to practice the Chopin Etudes with Marina Lomazov. This past spring, he released a series of master class sessions on the Taubman Approach with Golandsky Institute co-founder Robert Durso, and will be recording with Edna Golandsky herself this fall.
How to Participate
- Ask your questions right here until September 2nd!
- Ben will answer questions from September 5th - 9th!
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Hello Ben, thank you for your excellent pedagogy. As a beginner (~4 years into piano as an adult learner) I find your lessons very inspiring.
I would love to have lessons on playing ornaments- trills, mordants - where do I even start when practising these? How do I develop the technique? Can I incorporate these in my daily scale practice? Thanks very much,Rashmi
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@Ben Laude
And it would be absolutely fabulous if there is a short video lesson for Beginners please - something like: this is how you should practice your trills... !
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Rashmi Lahiri I'll have a video for you on practicing trills/ornaments ASAP this week!
I'll also producing a series on the topic with Edna Golandsky (piano technique guru) later this fall, and I'll be making more and more beginner/foundational content in the spring.
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Ben Laude Wow ! Thanks very much indeed Ben - there is no rush at all. You have already given a lot of time and energy into this first of the Ask Me Anything series. I look forward to your series with Edna Golandsky and the contents for beginners. Thanks again for the fabulous work you are doing at ToneBase.
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Rashmi Lahiri Thanks again for your patience! I made a little beginner trills lesson for you. I hope it helps!
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Ben Laude thank you Ben. This is exactly what I was looking for. Now I have a start point and a path
. Happy happy happy 
!
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When do you use the middle pedal? I am not aware of any markings for it. Do the best players use it much?
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Jenny Harrison I'll reply to this in more depth ASAP this week. Long story short, I almost never use it, but I'll show you some rep where it comes in handy (footy?).
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Jenny Harrison Here's a little video on the middle pedal. I don't have much to say about it though :)
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Ben Laude Thank you for the video. I am glad to hear I can essentially forget about the middle pedal.You are awesome to pay so much attention to our questions!
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So, is anyone at Tonebase actually looking at these questions? Not sure what the point is to "ask anything" .. Anyway, so here's mine: My SO says I play "too loud", most of the time. What is the technique to learn better dynamics? ie., how to play soft? I think it's a conscious thing, but when I think about it while playing, I screw up the piece I'm working on because of the over-thinking.
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Tim Caldwell Copying this from above! You'll hear from me next week :)
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Ben Laude Doi !! Sorry ... I didn't catch that part.. :-(
Thanks !
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Tim Caldwell Thanks for your patience. There were so many submissions, and I'm balancing some other commitments. So I'll be finishing responses this week and will reply to your questions ASAP this week!
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Tim Caldwell Thanks again for your patience! I made a video on soft playing for you that hopefully will help you, and your SO!
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Dear all - happy September!!
I'm enjoying reading all of your questions and I'm excited to get to work answering them next week. Keep them coming!
Meanwhile, I'm going to go practice (next year is Rachmaninoff's 150th and I've told myself I should prepare of bunch of rep for it!)
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Ben Laude Ben Laude Ooh, what Rachmaninoff rep are you working on, Ben? Very curious!
We could do some Rach Fest community events on Tonebase next year! (You’re quite possibly already thinking about it, I’m sure…)
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Tammy I'm supposed to play Rach 2 in fall 2023, but I also just devised the following set. Lots of his more popular pieces, but I think the order really works:
Prelude in C#m Op3/2
Etude-Tableaux in F#m Op39/3
Prelude in D Op23/4
Etude-Tableaux in Dm Op33/4
Prelude in G Op32/5
Moment-Musicaux in Em Op16/4By the way your 18th variation is very nice!
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Ben Laude Ack, thank you for saying that! How GREAT, Rach 2 next year — I’d love to see you play if it’s in NYC.
Love your progression of pieces, very clever. Very dramatic too! Hope we’ll get the chance to hear you play them next year — you must tell us where, when etc!
( I’ve just learned the Opus 32/12 Prelude and the Rach 2 first movement… some parts of it are so horribly awkward!
Also just got Asiya K’s transcription of the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata and it’s soo beautifully done. 
We need a Rachmaninoff Fan Page or community thread here! ) -
Tammy Asiya also sent me her Rach cello transcription. It looks impossible! My Rach 2 (not confirmed yet) would be upstate NY, like way upstate near Canada. Lmk what Rach 2 spots you're having trouble with. I've solved the 1st mvt pretty much.
A Rach community thread sounds like a good idea. Why don't you start one? -
Ben Laude Rach 2 trouble spots — I’m finding the second Piu Mosso from Bar 141 to 144 very awkward and hard to play fast, lightly, and accurately. I would also love to know what fingering you’re using as mine is probably suboptimal! Thank you so much
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Tammy I need to get Asiya’s transcription. Where did you find it?
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Gail Starr Hi Gail, I bought it from Asiya’s personal website! It’s a beautifully illustrated paper bound copy.
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Tammy Fabulous idea, Tammy!
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Tammy Thanks again for your patience! Here's some help with the spot in Rach 2 you're struggling with. Hope it helps.
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