Trifonov: My girlfriend says I practise in my sleep
main… He constantly hears music in his head: “Sometimes I notice it, sometimes I try not to. Sometimes it’s something I’ve already heard, or played or composed, sometimes it can be difficult to discern what it is.”
He has even been known to “practise” in his sleep (“I’ve been told by my girlfriend,” he mutters). Does he remember, on waking, what he has been practising? Apparently not. “Often in the morning on a tour you wake up and you have to immediately rush to the airport,” he says, “so there is not much chance for remembering.”
Why would he practice in his sleep when he has his girlfriend lying next to him? Concerts are usually better than rehearsals.
Practicing in your sleep is a legitimate piano practice method laid out by the great piano pedagogue of the past, Heinrich Neuhaus. His list of five practice methods was 1) with piano and sheet music, 2) with piano without music, 3) looking at the sheet music but without the piano, 4) without piano and without music (only mentally), 5) in your sleep. Check if you don’t believe!
How does this nocturnal practicing manifest itself? Grinding his teeth or tinkling her ivories?
Shouldn’t he be practicing something else when he’s in bed with his girlfriend? And I’m slightly surprised ‘The Triff’ has made this statement anyway; there’s something vaguely immature about it. Even voyeuristic.
Wasn’t there another kook pianist who talked to cows ,or mooed at them .
The FT should be more careful as to which idiot pianist they interview next .