The best technique is transparent.
To begin with: technique is not art. Technique is the collection of skills that enable you to make art. Whether vowel placement, brush strokes, chord voicing, standard ballet positions or any other technical skill, technique is a set of tools in service of artistry.
In my experience, over time the technique becomes subtler and less visible to the outside observer – or even to yourself. And I think the artistry becomes more powerful as the technique becomes more transparent.
Today as I worked in my notation software, I reflected on the transparency of that skill. I didn’t have to think at all about using the software – just about the music. And that’s how it works with transparent technique. As your skills get more secure, more of your mental energy can be spent on artistic choices.
The best performers I’ve seen live have all had great technique, and the very best ones left me completely unaware that they were giving attention to their technique. It was all about their art – musical choices, storytelling, interaction.