Leon Fleisher Masterclass

I recently attended a master class at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in March taught by Leon Fleisher. The program presented by the students consisted mainly of Brahms and a Schubert Sonata in A Major.This master class was particularly engaging because Mr. Fleisher encouraged interaction with the general audience as well as with himself and the performing musician. During his discussion, he stated that the three main parts that constitute Western style music is melody, harmony, and rhythm, the last being the most important of the three. He believes that it is possible to play slow and fast in the same tempo, based on the rhythmic inflections the performer uses in the piece. For example, making the long notes longer and the short notes shorter in contrast will lend a more upbeat feel, even if the tempo remains the same. Mr. Fleisher also led a discussion on the use of pedal. It is his conviction that the pedal must be consistent with finger work, and though the pedal appears to enlarge sound, in reality it is only mixing the sound, messing up the harmony, rather than enhancing the sonority. Lastly, the sound produced must be a horizontal journey, and to be cautious to not use accents as they act as an audible impedient in a moving line.