Norman Lu

My Research Interests

Beyond performance, I am deeply interested in the science and scholarship that can enhance piano playing. This includes exploring pedagogical innovations, the cognitive aspects of music, and strategies for pianist well-being and peak performance.

Neuroplasticity and Advanced Piano Practice
Exploratory Study - Peer Review Pending

Investigating how targeted piano practice methodologies optimize neural pathways, improving motor skill acquisition and musical memory.

Music CognitionNeurosciencePiano PedagogyMotor Learning
Ergonomic Interventions for Injury Prevention in Pianists
Published in 'Journal of Music and Medicine'

Efficacy of ergonomic assessments, posture correction, and specialized exercises in reducing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.

BiomechanicsInjury PreventionErgonomicsPianist Health
Deliberate Practice and Sight-Reading Proficiency
Conference Presentation - Int'l Symposium on Performance Science

Examining deliberate practice techniques and their quantifiable effects on improving sight-reading accuracy and speed in classical pianists.

Performance PsychologyPiano PedagogyCognitive SciencePractice Strategy
Historical vs. Modern Piano Fingering: A Comparative Analysis
Forthcoming Chapter in 'The Pianist's Craft'

Scholarly review of fingering principles from historical treatises versus contemporary methods, analyzing biomechanical efficiency and expressive implications.

Historical MusicologyPiano TechniquePedagogyPerformance Practice
Research Philosophy

"For me, performance and research are two sides of the same coin. Scholarly investigation and scientific understanding enrich my interpretation of music and my approach to the instrument. I believe in a practice-led research approach where knowledge directly informs and elevates artistic expression and pedagogical methods, ultimately benefiting the wider community of musicians."