ModernPianoPlaying.com

-- Play Piano Nature's Way

Technique --> The Hands are Captains:

MOVEMENT OF THE HAND:

(1) up-and-down movement, sideway movement using the wrist.

(2) Rotation with the radius in the forearm. Trying to rotate the hand at the wrist always results in strain and often in inflammation of the wrist.

USE OF THE HAND:

(1) Hand alone is not adequate for playing the piano. Make it as a synchronized part of the entire mechanism. demand it  as a part of the whole. The hand must simply extend the control of the upper arm and forearm. The upper arm is like the branch of a tree. The forearm is like the stem  of a branch, the hand is like the leaf of a stem.

(2) The hand is frequently used in playing arpeggios and scales. It is often thrown into a new position by the forearm and upper arm. Do not pass the thumb under the palm when playing fast.  Pass the hand as an unit while maintaining  the chord formation.

(3) Act as a fulcrum (the support, or point of rest, on which a lever turns) for the  fingers.  letting the finger up and down and sideways so that the fingers can fall freely.  - for example, playing scales. broken chords and arpeggios. When acting as fulcrum of the fingers , the hand is steady and passive but remain alert.

(4) The control of  the chord formation of the hand takes place in the palm  not the fingers. Open the palm  of your hand rather than stretching your fingers.

(5) Place the hand as close to the keyboard as possible and always maintain a horizontal and natural curved chord formation  .

THE WRIST:

(1) It is the possibility of flinging the hand down or out through the wrist joint which gives the wrist a very specialized value for the pianist.

(2) The wrist must be flexible and springy  to allow the  upper and forearm to propel the hand into play position, to transmit the power of the arm.

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