Some months back I came across a captivating recording of the Debussy Préludes. It was performed by an unknown (to me, anyway) French pianist and teacher by the name of Elie Robert Schmitz (pictured). I was curious and delved further, discovering a fascinating interview he gave in 1920 on ‘Pianoforte Technic’. There is a lot here that many a Pianist reader would do well to read (I for one, have learned a lot about my own playing!), so I present the highlights. Schmitz’s use of the English language might be a tad clunky here and there, but I didn’t wish to tamper unnecessarily. I’d be curious to hear what readers think.
‘It is quite easy for one to point out the defects in a technical or pedagogical system, but to provide constructive material of real worth to substitute for deficient methods is another matter. American teachers must themselves be aware of two single faults in teaching methods which have not been confined, by any means, to this country alone. I refer to these palpable shortcomings: The student is told:
‘That is, the teacher says, in the first instance: “Here is the music, now play it and at the next lesson I will criticise you.” Criticism means pointing out to the student this and that thing which does not please the teacher. The poor pupil is therefore blamed for errors which he makes out of his own ignorance. It never seems to occur to the teacher that it is his duty to make the pupil understand how to play before he permits him to play. That is, the pupil should understand certain principles which must be mastered before his brain can work correctly and
