Kris Davis Masterclass: Touch and Technique

Pianist Kris Davis grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Her first exposure to piano was through the classical canon. She found her jam when she discovered Bartok: “I loved the rhythm and quirky, atonal harmony.” In this masterclass, she discusses her evolution as a musician, including the pivotal experience of attending the Banff Center and working with Kenny Werner, Angelica Sanchez, Tony Malaby, and Ben Monder. She says, “I didn’t know about improvised music at that time. I remember being confused, but I loved the way people were communicating and the passion with which they played, often without a preordained plan.”

Davis then dives into the piano technique that she employs and teaches, clearly describing the exercises she uses to relax and prevent injury. She attributes her ability to working with Toronto-based educator and jazz pianist, Gary Williamson, who shared with her a process that he cultivated from the teachings of the legendary pianist Leopold Godowsky. Kris speaks about playing without tension, “holding your hand in the shape of a ball and then releasing your hand onto the keys without concern about what notes emerge.” She tells us “to allow the gravity to guide your hands onto the keyboard with your wrist acting as a shock absorber, while your fingers connect with the bottom of the keybed.” Kris uses these technical exercises for daily maintenance.

In the final portion of the masterclass, Davis shows us how she approaches preparing a piano using simple tools like erasers with slits cut in them to slide onto and change a given string’s harmonics.

~Eugene Uman

Note: This masterclass and the entire 2021 Solo Piano Festival took place during Covid. As a precaution, the Festival was livestreamed without an audience with just the tech team and the performers in attendance.