Left Hand, Alberti bass/Tremolo Technique

[sharmayelverton]

Hi all,

Iv been playing piano for about 7 years since I was 15. I can work my way through most technical problems within reason and have accomplished a few moderately hard pieces (as far as Im concerned) eg Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte, Some of Rach's Prelude in Gmin Num 5.

However, I find I have a big weakness in my left hand technique. Especially in regards to Beethoven LH tremolo passages or in this instance Mozart LH alberti bass lines. I can't play them very fast and the sound cumbersome, uneven and too loud. I understand in principal that these types of passages are achieved not so much by the fingers but by a light relaxed wrist, a fast rocking motion and/or certain wrist rotation movements. Unfortunately, I can't seem to put all this in to practice. I can do all that with my right hand but I don't know the appropriate practice technique to achieve this in my left hand.

If someone could help me with this It would be great. I feel its a significant gap in my piano technique and would really like to fill it. Thanks

 

[jnyl]

Hi there. Have you ever tried practising slowly? It certainly takes time. You may want to try practising Mozart's LH alberti bass in slow staccato and slowly get on to moderate speed. I hope this can help. Slow staccato helps alot in running notes, maybe in tremolo passages too.

[slobone]

Try practicing the passage (LH only) in dotted rhythms and acciaccaturas, in groups of 2 or 4. If you practice them this way, they will actually become more even. So C G E G would be played:

(Very) long C -- short G -- long E -- short G

and then

Short C -- long G -- short E -- long G
Long C -- short G -- short E -- short G
Short C -- short G -- short E -- long G

etc.

[CC]

Have you seen my book ?  See link below, especially sections II.7 and III.3b.

[teresa_b]

Those are all good recommendations.  I always try to remember forearm rotation.  In Mozart, too, the Alberti bass must be clearly articulated, but lighter and softer than the RH melody.  The worst thing is to hear this "chunka-chunka" which drowns out the phrasing of the melody line.

Teresa

[ahkow]

I did it this way. If it is a Left Hand tremolo in Octaves (C-C'), when u press the Low C, make sure that ur wrist and forearm makes an exaggerated motion to the left. when you press the High C, it should make an exaggerated motion to the right. Keep doing this and gradually increase speed. I never really had any problems with that though. One girl i knew found it tiring.