Graphic representations of sound: a tool for the analysis of piano performance

Abstract

The objective of this is to try to prove the usefulness of the computer to analyze musical interpretations by means of different graphs obtained from the spectrogram of a musical fragment. As an implicit aim in this analysis, its application to piano teaching is indicated, though extrapolative to other instruments. A few refl ections by way of introduction explain the relationships between, on the one hand, technology and its use in the pianistic methodologies and, on the other hand, the systematic approximation to the instrumental technology as a better learning option, with no disrespect towards intuition. The study gathers a series of experiences based on the analysis of performances from different musicians; the results provide a base to consider the proper elements of artistic playing in which one can get down to a level of minimal detail –agogics, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, metronomic tempo and aspects of the instrumental playing–. The above mentioned experiences were carried out by music teachers between 1999-2006 in several Conservatories of Music in Spain.