I Play Piano
I absolutely adore Chopin and Liszt’s Etudes but my hands are small and I’m not strong enough to play them :(
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SomeMichGuy · M
SomeMichGuy · M
? Strong enough? To activate a piano which is properly regulated only takes ounces of touch...?
If you really are straining, then I think you are laboring under some of the non-ergonomic notions of some of the received technique.
Gyorgy Sandor's On Piano Playing is what he came up with in response to a traditional technique which may not work with your body, and which--even more damningly--does not aid in the production of sound & playing of pieces.
If you are straining, something is wrong. Learn from Leon Fleischer...
If you really are straining, then I think you are laboring under some of the non-ergonomic notions of some of the received technique.
Gyorgy Sandor's On Piano Playing is what he came up with in response to a traditional technique which may not work with your body, and which--even more damningly--does not aid in the production of sound & playing of pieces.
If you are straining, something is wrong. Learn from Leon Fleischer...
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SomeMichGuy · M
@Lucy01 yeah but I think of stamina as being something you need to climb El Capitan or Halfdome, to run a marathon...
part of Sandor's observations are about not doing straining motions (keep most of your muscle/movements in the center of the ranges, don't use positions which count on having muscles in an extreme position) and not doing the wrong type of repetitive motions (you do things which allow muscles to contract and relax, you don't strain them by keeping them in the same position and throwing your hands at the keys).
In the end, he advocates using the natural continuous change of positions to give you...stamina...at the keyboard because you are always allowing muscles to rest and then be used in a cyclic way...
part of Sandor's observations are about not doing straining motions (keep most of your muscle/movements in the center of the ranges, don't use positions which count on having muscles in an extreme position) and not doing the wrong type of repetitive motions (you do things which allow muscles to contract and relax, you don't strain them by keeping them in the same position and throwing your hands at the keys).
In the end, he advocates using the natural continuous change of positions to give you...stamina...at the keyboard because you are always allowing muscles to rest and then be used in a cyclic way...
SomeMichGuy · M
@jennypenny hmmmm...as an example, when I was in college and first heard another student play the C# min Prelude by Rachmaninoff, I went to the music library, xeroxed it, and taught myself how to play it in a week. Sounds a bit better on the 'B' than on the crappy dorm piano at that particular dorm.
But that is giving away some things...
But that is giving away some things...
Lucy01 · 22-25, F
@SomeMichGuy so what else can you play apart from the Rach Prelude? Any favourite composers?
alan20 · M
Some of the Chopin Etudes (and Preludes) are comparatively easy technically but I'd have to check back over my scores to remind myself of stretches involved. Its often possible to cheat a little by arpeggiating the chord, or playing the bass note just before the rest, or leaving out some of the harmonically less important notes. I assume you're not talking about Carnegie Hall! Also the Chopin Nocturnes are more approachable. Have you listened to the Liszt concert etude known as Un Sospiro! Very haunting. Enjoy yourself.
americanmeg · F
SomeMichGuy · M
@jennypenny
Hmmm...you aren't being asked to come up with Chopin's pieces on your own, to compose them.
It is more like saying that, if Einstein could conceive of something, you can understand it, too. Which is true, though it might take you longer, but you have advantages Einstein did not have: over 100 years of people thinking about, writing about, and teaching relativity (special for over 110 yrs, general for over 100 yrs), with the result that it is much easier to learn than going off and reading his Annalen der Physik papers without guidance.
Likewise, there are many vids etc. about the playing of Chopin, etc., and even vids which might answer "how does pianist X finger this section of Op. Y?"...huge assets formerly unavailable.
You can play Chopin, with time and effort. You can understand Einstein, with time and effort.
A bit like saying if Einstein could discover relativity we all could do it @Vivaci
Hmmm...you aren't being asked to come up with Chopin's pieces on your own, to compose them.
It is more like saying that, if Einstein could conceive of something, you can understand it, too. Which is true, though it might take you longer, but you have advantages Einstein did not have: over 100 years of people thinking about, writing about, and teaching relativity (special for over 110 yrs, general for over 100 yrs), with the result that it is much easier to learn than going off and reading his Annalen der Physik papers without guidance.
Likewise, there are many vids etc. about the playing of Chopin, etc., and even vids which might answer "how does pianist X finger this section of Op. Y?"...huge assets formerly unavailable.
You can play Chopin, with time and effort. You can understand Einstein, with time and effort.
@SomeMichGuy LOLZ...like your sense of humor, man! You're so right bout that technique is key.
I'll surely check out Sandor's video. Thanks...
I'll surely check out Sandor's video. Thanks...
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jennypenny · 70-79, F
Newandimproved · 61-69, M
Mistakesmakeus · M
IDK I used to play piano and my hands were tiny, normally had to jump keys if it got a little fast or extreme. Although I gave up classic for EDM
Paradiddle · 46-50, M
I love the sound of piano, I wish I could play one! I'm a drummer and bassist
Mugin16 · 46-50, M
Nice! Maybe your hands will become stronger if you practice more?