If you want a melody to last and be heard, you have to listen to the end of every note. You'll hear what that does to the first phrase of the Moonlight Sonata.
In this lesson, Irish pianist John O'Conor performs and guides you through the first movement of Beethoven's so-called "Moonlight Sonata." As O'Conor points out, the biggest difficulty of the movement is balancing the accompaniment with the melody in the right hand. You shouldn't approach the key too vertically or risk over-articulating the triplets. Instead, pet each key almost horizontally back towards your body, as if painting with a paint brush, and you'll create a smooth and flowing texture. To express the melody effectively, O'Conor insists, you must really listen to the decay of each note. Your work is not done once the key is struck. These techniques will take you through most of the movement, as the texture remains more or less uniform throughout. O'Conor shows you nuances, hidden melodies, pedal tricks, and expressive devices, that will improve your musicality and allow you to find your own voice in this most famous piece.
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