5.7 The impact of physical movement on musical expression in piano playing through a longitudinal analysis

This video tracks a longitudinal study of a pianist’s technical and artistic development across repertoires. Early footage shows the student’s movements to be restricted and predominantly arm-focused, with limited involvement of the torso. In contrast, the later performance demonstrates a holistic physical release, utilising a "walking-like" motion to organically manage the opening chords. The torso and gestures flow freely, with body language actively contributing to the musical atmosphere.While comparing performances of different pieces is less quantifiable than using the same piece, these observations suggest that whereas changes within a single work may be simpler to achieve, transferring those improvements to new repertoire demonstrates deeper learning and adaptability. By comparing two performances separated by a sustained period of focused intervention, it reveals how deliberate, multi-sensory guidance can transform restrictive, mechanical playing into fluid, expressive musicianship.These videos form part of a broader research project investigating the development of coordinated movement in piano performance, with applications in piano pedagogy, injury prevention, and performance enhancement.