Piano keys and paint brushes

There are similarities ...  and considerable differences between teaching piano and painting.

We’ve all heard a child brutalizing piano keys. That same child, when carefully and patiently coached can eventually produce the same glorious notes and chords handed down the centuries from Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven and other notables.

However in art, we’re told from an early age to “be creative” and “use our imagination” rather than being taught accurate drawing, underpainting, glazing and Golden Mean from the get-go. Pianos have 88 keys forcing the pianist to “stay inside the lines.” There just aren’t any more keys to the right or left. Young painters, however, are often encouraged to paint outside the lines, the box, or beyond the canvas and onto Dad’s old shirt. (You won’t find musical notes splattered onto the floor of a piano studio). If these youngsters were taught art like piano students, would their later paintings be of higher quality?

Master piano and violin teacher Mary Laura Gardner says: “The goal of a successful piano teacher is to enrich her student’s life through the medium of music.  From the very beginning I integrate the three essentials of beautiful music — melody, harmony and rhythm. Whereas art is appreciated by the eye, music is appreciated by the ear.  The goal is to make music quickly. This creates a desire to learn and sets the path ahead.

    “Technique is crucial in developing an artistic performer. One must understand the various touches producing many nuances and shades of tonal color. Producing a relaxed, beautiful tone on the piano involves listening and skill. A crisp staccato requires different control of the fingers and muscles than a lovely legato touch. 

    “Learning the rudiments of harmony and rhythm are also essential tools needed to produce the outcome of a piece enjoyable to the listener as well as the performer.

    “Every student is unique and must be nurtured individually in these basic elements which require practice and skill to master.

    “Before playing The Masters in their original form, one must have worked to accomplish the technique needed to express the music.”

Mary Laura Gardner encourages a student during a lesson.
Oil on canvas / 14h x 11w

Larry says: Imagine a room full of “creative” youngsters playing piano at the same time. On the other hand it’s not uncommon for an entire class of  five-year-old “ar-teests” to paint together. Using the infinite monkey theorem, would a young painter applying paint at random for an infinite amount of time eventually paint the complete works of Leonardo? Or, would it save time and materials to teach proper technique and control from the beginning?