
The Taubman Approach to Piano Technique
The Taubman Approach to piano technique uses the natural biomechanics of the hand, forearm, fingers, and shoulder to make executing piano passages natural and easy. For example, fingers can painlessly and easily go up and down from the knuckles, but they strain to move and stretch laterally. The forearm easily moves laterally and rotationally. The palm is equipped with muscles (the lumbricals) to lift the fingers. When we sit well with an anteverted pelvis, arms can freely drop from the shoulder joint.
When the fingers are unified with the arm, they get delivered to their notes by the arm and can simply drop down to the key. Playing with a finger drop feels much better than playing with a finger stretch, and yields more satisfying musical results as well!
Every pianist can learn to avoid or rehabilitate playing-related injuries, and also to play to their full potential. If you have ever practiced something and not improved, felt like your hands are too small for the piano, had an injury or pain at the piano, have trouble with executing scales, or just feel like you are limited at the piano, Taubman can help.
I am currently studying with Mary Moran at the Golandsky Institute. It is a priority of mine to teach all my young students a healthy technique, and to be able to rehabilitate teens and adults. I therefore apprentice with her to directly help my students, and my goal is to enter the teacher training program at the Golandsky Institute.
Studying the Taubman Approach isn't quick or easy, because students must unlearn inefficient motions and learn better ones. That takes time. It leads to such a fantastic payoff. If you are struggling, I encourage you to give it a try.
