FUNDAMENTALS OF PROFESSOR’S PIANO PEDAGOGY ZHOU GUANGZHEN

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the multidimensionality of the Zhou Guangzhen’s pedagogical and performing experience formation stages, which resulted in the formation of foundations of her own method of teaching piano and her recognition as a unique master of piano pedagogy. To do this, the most important facts of the pianist’s biography were studied. During the analysis of musicological sources, published author’s memoirs and personal statements of the pianist revealed that this process covered a long period of her life – from childhood (since 1932) to the beginning of work as deputy head of the Central Beijing Conservatory (1956) piano department. The specifics of long systematic or sporadic short-term classes with its multiple teachers were studied, also systemized the results of each classes and specifics of their influence directions. It was found that Zhou Guangzhen gained unique experience, and her teachers were leading representatives of various national school: Chinese – Qian Qi, Ding Shande, Yang Jiazhen; German – W. Frenkel, A. Marcus, Wiedenbaum, classes with a prominent pianist and conductor, Italian Mario Pachi and a representative of the Hungarian piano school, a student of F. Liszt B. Belai. Classas with the author of the work “Piano Technique Playing”, a representative of the Czech piano school J. Gat, postgraduate classes with the performer and teacher, a representative of the Russian piano school A. Tatulyan, who indirectly her to school play their own teachers – prominent Russian pianists O. Gnesina, O. Goldenweiser, G. Neuthaus. The significance of Zhou Guangzhen’s teaching for all these these teachers and their influence on the formation of Zhou Guangzhen as a performer, musical interpreter, composer, musicologist are derived. Each of the stages of the pianist’s performing and pedagogical improvement was important for gaining invaluable experience and her unique ascent to the highest form of professionalism. It is concluded that the principles of Zhou Guangzhen’s piano pedagogy were formed under the influence of awareness of each teachers achievements and under the influence of modern traditions of development of professional piano art in China.