Such an interesting question we tend to receive from students, and we would like to give it a general answer for everyone who may be asking the same.
Firstly, let’s begin to understand what musical analysis is and from that we will grasp the importance of why we should embark in that study that most of the piano students feel reluctant to do.
According to Wikipedia: “Musical analysis is the study of musical structure in either compositions or performances. It, “is the means of answering the question directly ‘How does it work?’”
We do understand that in the context of an average piano lesson, the time is focused mainly on the technical aspects of playing the instrument. Little time is left to consume it with other subjects such as this, but piano teachers should consider incorporating at least a couple of minutes to help the student understand the structure of a piece. By doing so, they will grasp their content better, and this will have a very positive impact on the performance as well.
For example, in an article published by Juan Rezzuto, he explains the difference between the formal functions of staying on a chord and how this can be an assistance to master a given passage.
At WKMT, they found the solution for this endemic lack of time during the lessons.
They stream live (and free) Musical Analysis, Composition, Harmony and Counterpoint, that according to the renowned composer Arnold Schonberg, are the pillars for any serious study in music. Below you can find the link to learn all about it and join us:
https://www.piano-composer-teacher-london.co.uk/free-music-college
We should consider saving a little bit of time to have a deeper understanding of the structure of the pieces we perform. Piano performance in all levels is not just about the notes, but their context within a piece and the relations they make. It can be seen as a journey, and musical analysis as a sort of road map, if you will.