These laws were originally proposed, tongue-in-cheek, for the 2020 Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum, in the form of a pseudo-parliamentary motion which argued that, once we have identified our laws of piano technique, we will as a corollary be able to identify our “pianistic scofflaws and criminals.” The motion in question can be found here, and those inclined to look hard enough can probably find a video of my speech lurking in the cellars of Youtube.
The laws are:
- Each note shall be played in the direction of the next;
- The motion by which a note is reached shall be the same motion with which it is played; and
- At all times, each finger shall be positioned with an awareness of where it is to play next.
David Cartledge 