In general, the idea is to be able to see different positions in your head without touching the pieces. Of course, with computer and Internet chess, you can move the pieces on the "analysis" board to your heart's content, something you could not do over the board in a "real" game!
Players in tournaments also had a touch rule - you must move a piece if you touch it, if it has a legal move, so they had to figure things out mentally.
Hope this helps!
Stwils, I have been reading your posts here and on Chess Tempo, and I would recommend the following. Put the books down and simply go to Chess Tempo and do some very easy problems unrated. :) For example, do a mate-in-1 problem set.
Take a long time on each problem. Do not move until you are sure you see the solution.
To answer your questions above, I don't feel that knowing the colour of a particular square, or whatever, is important. Maybe others disagree here, but I personally have never found that kind of training to be useful.
Good luck,
Tom
knowing the color of a certain square is actually a simple logic question, since the board is always set up the same way (d6 should be a dark square.....no board here to look at....) That said, arbitrary_name is correct. Sometimes tricks do not lead to mastery of the game.
Knowing the color of squares is necessary particularly for blind/blindfold chess. I just read an article about a GM who after his opponent moved, looked at the opposite wall for 40 minutes before turning around and making a great move.
P.S. If ever a book is confusing and unhelpful, PUT IT DOWN!
No problem. Glad you are enjoying it.
Mate-in-ones are great practice in my opinion. Not only do you learn common mating patterns, but also your basic chess vision — your ability to see, for example, that a particular move is available in the current position (or in a future position) — gets a good workout.
Tom
I love mate in ones. I would suggest doing them every day for a few weeks. I did the first ~300 problems in the 5334 Polgar book every day for weeks until I had my average time down to <= 5 seconds, including error check (as no book will tell you instantly whether it's right!). Chesstempo seems like an improvement!
Snufflenose.com also has 1 move wins of material which can be used in a similar way. Glad you're enjoying it! It's such a shame that music becomes a chore for any kid. A student who asks for high-level training is one thing, but the teacher and student should have aligned goals.
If an adult really wants to get good at chess, and somehow they have some sort of mental block where usual methods aren't giving any kind of improvement, I could see how RCI would be ideal. Through tedious exercises and a grueling schedule in a way it forces certain skills such as board visualization that are (IMO) usually gained automatically after a lot of play.
Sort of like taking some back roads instead of a highway -- it may be difficult and take longer, but hey if you can't take the highway what are you going to do? That's my theory as of 5 minutes ago anyway 
I do enjoy the scenic backroads. And Knight vision drills sated my etude driven mind about 10 years ago.
Playing blindfold chess forces you be aware of all your pieces! Im not sure how much it helps with visualization.
I think the method presented by http://chessfox.com/visualwize-3-0/ is the best i have seen so far.
Playing blindfold chess forces you be aware of all your pieces! Im not sure how much it helps with visualization.
I think the method presented by http://www.chess-tactics-strategies.com/p/how-to-train-chess-tactics.html is the best i have seen so far.
Agreed. But, you don't need to buy that "Visualwisation" program to do it. Use the tools here - set up a random position and make the moves in your head. You can do the same on your board.
havent read the book of chess visualization but i think it is very helpful inbullet play as u are fast enough to visualize the location and movement of piecesby playing bullet game
Is it all in your head with your hands behind your back? No board? No chessmen to move? I ask this because in "Rapid Chess Improvement" de la Maza (which I have just started reading) speaks of doing chess vision drills. He goes on about an exercise with concentric circles, then says " place your queen here..." etc. I am confused and mad and wish I had never opened this book or heard about "chess visualization." Life was hard enough with a real chess board and chessmen I could touch and move... Anyone read this book? Stwils