Sports fans wear the shirts of their idols, and classical music has never entirely escaped the cult of personality either. Few classical musicians in modern times, with the possible exception of Liberace, have embraced celebrity quite as enthusiastically as Lang Lang.
There is branded merchandise, the carefully scripted aura of fashion and luxury, and, of course, the flamboyant stage persona. Combined with an unhappy and traumatic childhood, and you’ve got a classical rags to riches story.
I have personally seen Lang Lang grinning from t-shirts, but many youngsters can now encounter his animated cartoon personality in the Lang Lang Piano Method.
To commemorate his birthday on 14 June, it is worth asking what this piano primer does for the piano community: does it give back, or does it simply borrow yet another page from the superstar playbook?
“The Lang Lang Piano Method”
Join the Superhero
The Lang Lang Piano Method, Preparatory Level (Faber Music)
First things first: I am not a piano teacher, and my personal instruction relied on established methods. I have also lived long enough to understand that things have changed, and that entire generations have never known a time without the internet or digital technology.
Lang Lang introduced his Piano Method as part of the “Lang Lang Piano Academy” with Faber Music in 2016. According to the pianist, it is designed to inspire the next generation of pianists by making the piano feel accessible rather than intimidating.
There are five levels, each with a printed or downloadable book, downloadable audio files, material for teachers, answer sheets, QR codes for quick access, and certificates of completion so you can join the “superhero world of Lang Lang.”
He believes that children should not be faced with nothing but scales and arpeggios, and that joy should always come before discipline. In this case, joy takes the form of a cartoon Lang Lang, whose own voice takes young pianists through each section.
Lang Lang Piano Method Level 1
Education Vision
Lang Lang
There seems to be a cultural element behind it, as Lang Lang sees his method not as a tool to produce concert pianists, but as a way of exposing millions of children to music-making. “Learning an instrument can be a really important part of a child’s development and a great way to improve many things like concentration and focus.” (Faber Music, 2016)
This piano primer is one aspect of the “Lang Lang International Music Foundation,” founded in 2008. In the prospectus, we read: “We believe that all children should have access to music and music education, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
“At the Lang Lang International Music Foundation®, we strive to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers. By igniting a child’s passion for music, we are helping children worldwide aim for a better future.”
Lang Lang Piano Method Level 2
A Teacher’s Legacy
Gary Graffman and Lang Lang
If we’re talking about superstar branding versus artistic philanthropy, we should also remember that Lang Lang received much of his musical training from his much-revered teacher, Gary Graffman, who recently passed away. Teaching Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, and other highly talented Asian youngsters, Graffman didn’t simply teach them to play the piano. Rather, he also instilled in them a sense of giving back to the community.
Graffman was a strong advocate of the arts and arts education, and a few years ago, he wrote something that now feels almost prophetic. “I’d like to add that this diminishment of ALL education in the USA over two generations might help to explain, and perhaps even partially excuse, the uninformed utterances emanating from the mouths of too many of our elected representatives, as well as their complete lack of knowledge or interest in anything to do with the arts.”
“In fact, it would not be at all surprising if many of those representatives who received our typical public education during the last four or five decades have hardly ever, if at all, chosen to visit an art museum or to attend an opera, the ballet or a symphony concert.” (Graffman, Slipped Disc, 2015)
Lang Lang’s 8 golden rules for learning to play the piano
Inspiration Versus Instruction
Lang Lang with young piano students
I believe that the “Lang Lang Piano Academy” and the “Lang Lang International Music Foundation” are some of the clearest legacies of Gary Graffman’s teaching influence. The Lang Lang Piano Method is probably not the pedagogical blueprint to build Lang Lang clones, but if it inspires more young people to develop a lasting curiosity about music and the arts, we should probably welcome the contribution.
In the reviews by users, the series is called accessible, with specific praise for the Time for a Break audio sections, where Lang Lang plays music purely for its enjoyment value. Some teachers use the books to supplement their usual books, while some teachers are highly resistant to the online/downloadable nature of the project.
And if I personally never have to see Lang Lang perform again, it’s wonderful to see him engaging with young players. We can’t continue to let our classical audiences grey out the attendance; we need to get young students to feel the excitement of music.
As for its pedagogical effectiveness, I will leave that to professional piano teachers to decide.
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