Act of Attention

Tobias Matthay, in his seminal work "The Act of Touch in All Its Diversity", placed heavy emphasis on the importance of attention and mental focus in achieving optimal piano technique. Here's how he saw the role of attention prior to executing movements at the keyboard:

1. Directing Muscular Action: Matthay believed that clear mental focus and attention were the primary drivers of correct muscular action at the keyboard. The mind must first conceive the desired sound, quality of tone, and the specific nuances of the musical phrase. This mental image then dictates the precise physical movements required.
2. Analyzing Key Fall: Attention plays a vital role even before you touch the key. Matthay emphasized the importance of analyzing the 'key-fall', which involves understanding the weight of the key and the resistance it offers. The player's attention helps determine how to initiate the movement and shape the tone from the initial contact.
3. Continuous Monitoring and Refinement: Attention is not merely about the initial moment of playing a note. Matthay believed in continuous monitoring throughout the entire process of key depression and release. This attention allows for micro-adjustments to maintain the desired tone, dynamic, and overall touch.
4. Preventing Automatism: Matthay warned against the dangers of automatism, or mindless repetition, in piano playing. This type of playing can lead to sloppy technique and a lack of musicality. Attention keeps the player actively engaged in shaping the sound and allows for responsiveness to subtle changes in the music.

Key Takeaways from Matthay:

• Attention is the precursor to effective physical movements on the keyboard.
• The mind, not just the fingers, is the principal player of the piano.
• Attention must be directed towards the quality of sound desired, understanding the mechanism of the instrument, and continuously monitoring the process.

Although the act of Attention needed is but a single flash of consciousness, it really is a compound act. The act of attention needed in playing is really a compound act, and it must embrace 2 purposes.

1. How do you want it to sound?
2. How do you achieve the sound?

The act of inwardness (musical outcome) and outwardness(technical requirements) segregate themselves into 2 distinct subdivisions of intelligence. The act of attention in playing ultimately consists of 4 components.

1. You must mentally try to visualize where each note must begin as to time.
2. In order to determine the tone color of a note, you have to determine its importance.
3. By use of your muscular sense, determine how much energy the key needs.
4. By means of listening, you must determine when to cease the energy.

You must realize where each sound must be and where the key begins to resist and where its movement possibly ends.

The requirements of the key require application of knowledge and your muscular adaptation to the keys. Muscular attention to key resistance and aural attention^[1] to the beginning of each sound must be present.
Attention must be given as a consequence of our desire to make music. We must attend to the music as the object to be attained and use your intelligence to perceive the musical shapes employed. Secure for each note its proper place in the musical scheme as a whole. We must not play a note until we are ready to listen, and by listening we must try to perceive music. At the moment of music making, we must try to realize what the music means.

1. What is the music that we are trying to communicate?
2. How it feels?
3. How it should sound?

Our wish must be to perceive music. Musical feeling is the motivating power of action. One must feel the music so that others may be moved by it. The moment we perceive a passage is the moment the music becomes something fresh and new. Your mind and feelings must be vividly awake to the impression. Give yourself to the emotion that lies behind the musical notation.

[1]aural attention: Aural attention is an important part of our brain's function. Unlike when we are accused of simply not listening, selective aural attention is often an unconscious process that takes over when you are trying to focus on a sound or a person's words.