Lake Cook Music Studio LLC

Be it the piano, violin, voice, guitar, flute, drums, etc., playing an instrument involves a series of physical actions or “gestures.” Playing with expression and artistry is accomplished by “coaxing” a variety of sounds from the instrument using these gestures. In other words, for each and every sound created on an instrument, there is a physical action that creates it.

Creating the sounds you want on the instrument in an effortless manner is the very definition of good technique. To paraphrase Chopin, who put it best: Technique and artistry are one and the same. It is a matter of cause and effect.

Therefore, it is essential that the student be taught the most ergonomic, relaxed and efficient movements right from the start, to avoid strain and injury, all the while learning to play with beautiful expression and artistry.

So the teacher’s job, like a coach, is to help the student, like an athlete, “find” and develop these effortless movements that create beautiful, expressive music. So yes! Learning to play an instrument is a bit of an athletic endeavor!

These gestures are the “tools of the trade” for the musician. Over time, the student acquires a large assortment of “high quality tools” that they can instantly “pull out of their tool box” to use in performance.

At Lake Cook Music Studio, good technique is a priority that is taught to all of our students. As their technique grows, the student can more easily express themselves through music, which adds to the sheer enjoyment of playing.