Piano Music - Felix Le Couppey

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📖 “However gifted the pupil may be, however rich the talent which nature has bestowed upon him, if practice has not made his fingers flexible, if by persevering work he has not overcome all the difficulties of execution, not only will there be a height of perfection to which he will never attain, but sooner or later his progress will be arrested by unforeseen obstacles. The study of technique, therefore, must enter largely into the plans of every student who aspires to brilliant results; a quarter or, better still, a third of the time devoted to the piano should be given to it. On this point the teacher will sometimes meet with resistance, for it must certainly be acknowledged that the practice of exercises is dry and unattractive, and the pupil, in his ignorance, will often dispute the usefulness of it."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 “Etudes [studies], properly so called, are a modern invention. It is about half a century since the Cramer études brought into use this new sort of composition, which embodies the principle of presenting special difficulties within narrow limits. Since that period pianists of rare merit have followed in the footsteps of this celebrated composer, but sometimes purposely modifying the original character of the work which they have taken as a model, and giving to the word étude a broader and more extended signification."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 “Authors of indisputable talent have published voluminous collections of études, whose books, arranged progressively, lead from the first principles to the highest difficulties in the art of piano playing. I do not approve the exclusive use of these collections. I believe that a musical education is incomplete when it is based solely upon any one composer's productions. But in expressing this opinion it is, of course, understood that I do not intend to criticise the works of any particular artist. I simply state a principle too true to admit of dispute. Every composer has his peculiar characteristics, his own particular melodic turns, some harmonies that he affects, and even when he attempts to change his style he falls back, without knowing it, into his old familiar forms. Pupils, on their side, in studying one composer to the exclusion of all others, receive, so to speak, a reflection of his individuality, identify themselves with his manne, and become, for this very reason, unfitted to comrehend the works of a different character. … I believe that it is essential to have some variety in the choice of works which are used in teaching, for in this way the musical feeling and intelligence are more efficiently developed, and that monotony is avoided which so often produces ennui and distaste for practice."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 “Experience proves that in requiring young pupils to commit to memory the piece they have studied through with the score, you obtain from them, almost without their knowing it, a perseverance in the work that would otherwise have been asked for in vain. Pupils will submit to this rule with less fatigue and weariness; for though the piece is not changed, it is at least presented in another form, from a different point of view, and the thirst for variety, so universal in children, is thus satisfied to a certain extent. In this way pupils study more thoroughly; they accustom themselves little by little to careful and attentive practice, and acquire that taste for perfection which cannot be inspired too early in them."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 "I do not hesitate to assert that there is a certain degree of progress, a certain development of musical faculties that will never be attained by one not in the habit of playing from memory. The constant preoccupation of following the notes with the eyes, invariably injures the development of perfection… . Freed from this preoccupation, the player identifies himself more completely with the work he interprets; he has a firmer grasp of its character, its style, its colour, in fact, he plays more artistically. For this type of study, when the taste is refined, when the musical feeling is elevated and strengthened he can have more perfect command over himself, can be absorbed, listen to the tone of this note, or watch the touch of that, can give himself entirely up, to restrain himself, and become wrapped in what he plays, like the actor in his role. To allow free play of the imagination, to bring out the melody that is felt in the soul [E'l cantor che neli anima si sente - Petrarque], to permit the heart to be moved, to reach to the ideal of a fine interpretation, must not the thought be disengaged from all outside fetters?"
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

Felix Le Couppey

1811 - 1887
Felix Le Couppey was a French composer, pianist and music teacher.

📖 "It is difficult to determine with any degree of precision the age at which a child may begin the study of the piano. His greater or less precocity, his more or less delicate and nervous organization, his state of health, his strength, his character, his taste, all these thing shsould be taken into consideration. As soon, however as a child knows how to read fluently, whatever his age, it may be reasonably assumed that there would be no insurmountable difficulty in his beginning his musical studies. His progress may not be rapid, he will appear not to advance a step for a year, or two years perhaps, nevertheless, if he has only been inoculated with music, as a celebrated professor has expressed it [Zimmermann Encyclopédie du pianiste compositeur], the time will have been well spent."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 "The study of music has now become obligatory, and all young [children], whether they display a taste for it or not, are taught to play the piano. This is a great mistake. Above all things, the child's taste should be ascertained, and if his disposition seems to be opposed to music it would be wise to abstain from teaching him, for even the most insignificant results can only be obtained at the expense of infinite worry and weariness, of infinite time and useless endeavour."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 "It is believed, and it is a prejudice unfortunately too widely diffused, that in laying the foundation of a musical education, a second-rate teacher and a poor instrument will answer all purposes. I cannot too strongly express my disapproval of an opinion so opposed to the rules of common sense. Far from being of no consequence, the first lessons, on the contrary, exercise a very direct action on the pupil's future, and their influence is long felt. Often, several years hardly suffice to correct faults contracted during a few months, and more than one talent has gone to ruin from having been badly directed at the outset. Even if it does not lead to any such serious consequences, the use of a poor instrument causes other troubles that should be considered. If the piano is old, worn out, or out of order, there is a danger that the pupil will soon be disgusted. Who would not object to playing on an instrument whose shrill and cracked tones continually grate on the ear! A good piano, then is indispensable."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 "Any method which confines one to a single style becomes an enemy to progress; and in expressing my preferences for classical music as a basis of piano study, I do not wish to reject modern music absolutely. I advise, on the contrary, that it be studied in a small proportion which will often serve to awaken a pupil's taste and judgement. Besides, it is well to be familiar with all kinds, with all styles, and it would be absurd to reject any particular music…"
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 "Whatever be a teacher's preference for a particular kind or for a certain school, he ought to put only good music into his pupils' hands. This point is essential. In the same way that a strong and healthy literary education excludes all frivolous reading, so, in a musical education, that which is mediocre should be rejected; and it should be early sought to form the pupil's taste, to elevate his thoughts, to introduce him to the masterpieces of the art.""
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

📖 “Children, it is well known, are not studios in general. Leading them imperceptibly to develop more hard-working habits - is this not preparing for tomorrow's progress, is this not securing the future?"
"Les enfants, on ne l'ignore pas, sont peu studieux, en général. Les amener insensiblement à des habitudes plus laborieuses, n'est-ce pas préparer les progrès du lendemain, n'est-pas assurer l'avenir?
Felix Le Couppey De l'enseigment du piano. Conseils aux élèves et aux jeunes professeurs

📖 “Everything lies in knowing how to practise."
Felix Le Couppey Piano Teaching. Advice to Pupils and Young Teachers

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Books and Music by Felix Le Couppey

Download Free Scores of Original Piano Music and Compilations by Felix Le Couppey

👉 Le Couppey, Felix A. B. C. Méthode pour les commençants

👉 Le Couppey, Félix L'alphabet, Op.17

👉 Le Couppey, Félix 24 Etudes primaires, Op.10

👉 Le Couppey, Félix Le progrès, Op.24

👉 Le Couppey, Félix Le rythme, Op.22

👉 Le Couppey, Félix Le style, Op.21

👉 Le Couppey, Félix L'agilité, Op.20

👉 Le Couppey, Félix La difficulté, Op.25

👉 Le Couppey, Félix École du mécanisme (exercises)

👉 Le Couppey, Félix La virtuosité (exercises)

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