How many hours does Hilary Hahn practice?

Mental versus physical practice When I was at school I practised up to five or six hours a day. Now I can practise for eight hours but can be playing for less. The proportions have shifted. I play a little, I write something in the music, I do some stretching exercises, I think about it, I come back to it.

thestrad.com - Violinist Hilary Hahn on practice and interpretation | Focus - The Strad

Will water ruin a piano?

Direct exposure of the case, soundboard, strings, and action assembly to water can commonly cause major glue failure of integral structural...

Last updated Jun 13, 2020

How often should I have piano lessons?

once a week How often should piano lessons be? Piano lessons are typically done once a week. This is the universal standard for most piano...

Last updated Sep 12, 2021

Promotion

In June 2012 violinist Hilary Hahn was guest editor of The Strad's ‘Conversations' special. The following five quotations on performance and interpretation are extracted from that issue.

Hilary Hahn on...

Practice and performing rituals

I used to have intentional rituals, but with the travelling I do, they went by the wayside. Every day is different, but I do things habitually without realising. For practice, it’s more that I’m trying to get into a mindset. A routine doesn’t come naturally. I like to have a different setting almost every day; I think better if I’m in a different place. On concert days I try to take a nap before getting ready. That’s definitely become a ritual. It tells me something’s coming.

Reaching a personal interpretation

What I focus on with set pieces is creating the interpretation, the meaning that I want to convey. Of course the piece has meaning, but it can be turned in many different ways. You have to think, ‘What am I saying?’ I graduated at 19 and when I started working on my own it took a while to understand my instincts. Now when I approach a piece I go through the score, I listen to recordings, I talk to people about their experiences and impressions, and try to build my interpretation from the ground up. When I perform the work for the first time [in concert], it changes in unpredictable ways. After the first performance I feel like I finally know what the piece is. It could have become any kind of piece on stage, but it’s determined to show how it really wants to be, and it does.

Mental versus physical practice

When I was at school I practised up to five or six hours a day. Now I can practise for eight hours but can be playing for less. The proportions have shifted. I play a little, I write something in the music, I do some stretching exercises, I think about it, I come back to it. I do a lot, but the amount of actual playing probably never exceeds four hours. That’s about all I can do physically.

Where to feel the music

Expression is in the hands – the emotional tools for conveying interpretation are there. But for me it’s also in the legs. People don’t see this because I usually wear a long gown, but when I play standing, I move my legs with the music. The core and the back are also important for allowing that feeling to go into the arms.

Finding a balance between work and rest

I have to remember to keep on top of all aspects of playing the instrument. The biggest challenge for me these days is to find a consistent working mindset in the midst of the constant changes of travelling life. It’s weird – on the one hand I try to keep a logical balance of work and rest, and on the other, I constantly have work at the back of my mind. Something I see or hear reminds me of something I’ve been working on, or gives me a new idea for a project. I love that push and pull. These quotations were originally published as part of larger features in The Strad's June 2012 issue – download on desktop computer or through The Strad App.

What is the slowest piano piece?

Entitled "As Slow as Possible" (ASLSP), the composition by the late American composer John Cage is due to be played out over 639 years at the St....

Last updated Sep 29, 2022

How many hours a day should I practice guitar?

For most people, 30–90 minutes per day seems to be a good goal. Total beginners may see good results in just 15 minutes per day.

Last updated Jul 25, 2021

Promotion

Is Moonlight Sonata a beginner piece?

Beethoven: 'Moonlight' Sonata (I) But the 'Moonlight' Sonata is both beautiful and perfect for beginners. The first movement – the most famous...

Last updated Jul 31, 2021

How many guitars does the average person own?

Research suggests the average player now owns between seven and eight guitars (though the figures referenced here are, at best, anecdotal), meaning...

Last updated Sep 20, 2021

Promotion

What key is for your eyes only?

G Major For Your Eyes Only is written in the key of G Major.

Last updated Feb 20, 2022

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

What key has C sharp and F sharp?

key of D major For example, the key of D major has a key signature of F♯ and C♯, and the tonic (D) is a semitone above C♯.

Last updated Oct 8, 2022