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Feeling is an informal musical term describing the expressive character, groove and emotional quality of a performance. It refers to how music is played rather than simply what is written on the page.
What does feeling mean in music?
Musicians use the word feeling to describe the subtle combination of timing, dynamics, articulation and expression that gives a performance its musical character. Feeling may include playing with swing, a laid-back groove, or other expressive nuances that are difficult to capture in standard notation.
Although feeling is not a precise technical term, it is one of the most important aspects of musical performance.
How is feeling used in piano playing?
Good piano playing depends on more than playing the correct notes. Feeling comes from controlling touch, rhythm, dynamics and phrasing to support the style and emotion of the music.
Developing musical feeling helps pianists create performances that sound expressive, natural and engaging rather than mechanical.