This time, start by pressing CE with 1-3.Now, instead of lifting 1-3, lift the whole forearm (use the biceps and the brachialis – the muscles at the topside of the upper arm). The effort and movement of the forearm will be tiny, since a small displacement at elbow level will cause a major movement at the hand level. Then bring the fingers down, this time 2-4 on DF, by letting the arm drop (not like a dead weight – but in a controlled fashion). Next lift the forearm again (by hinging it at the elbow by using the biceps-brachialis), and let it drop again on 3-5 on GE.4. The problem you have to solve with this new approach is of a completely different nature. You have to learn how to keep the fingers that are going to hit the keys firm, while the other fingers are relaxed. And you have to learn how to fine-tune your upper arm movement (it is a tiny movement) to move your hand at the extremity accurately. And finally you have to co-ordinate the arm movement with the firming of the appropriate fingers.
As I have said many times, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to describe movements in writing so that they can be safely be imitated by a reader who has never seen the movement before. As I reread this old post of mine, I still think it is a good description. But will someone reading it be able to reproduce the movement I am trying to describe without a demonstration? Most likely not.The idea of breaking the thirds in lines and working on them separately is a very good one (pianohopper – although I don’t see any triplets in the right hand…) If you do so you must of course preserve the original fingering, for when you join the notes to make up the thirds.Allchopin is absolutely right as well: consistent practice will work wonders. The only proviso is that you aim your practise at effortlesness. If you have the wrong movements, consistent practice will not make that much of a difference in how labored your playing is. However, you will know you are on the right path if as you practise, it becomes easier and easier (which seems to be allchopin's experience). Usually our unconscious – given the chance – can find out by itself the best movements if you investigate enough. The worst one can do is get a fixed idea of what the movement is and stick to it no matter what. Try different things and go for the ones that feel the easiest. You must do that on very small, representative sections so that you can do it at the final speed (So Ted’s – Brendan’s suggestion of “microsleeps” is also good) in a very short time – the movement at speed must be figured out, since at slow speeds you will get away with inappropriate movements.Once you figure out the movements, do repeated note groups, which is a very good strategy for this study – but brace yourself: you will have to work in very small sections (7-10 thirds at a time) and it will look like it will take forever to master the full study. Fortunately there is a lot of repetition, so make sure you analyse (in the sense of identifying repeats) the study first to decrease your workload.Finally, the movement you will end up using (which is to a certain extent personal) will also depend on the fingering you use. I strongly suggest you use Chopin;s original fingering, but if you look up Cortot’s “Edition de Travail”, he provides 10 different fingering possibilities (Chopin’s included) for you to investigate. He also has many interesting preparatory exercises for this study.Best wishes,Bernhard.
Allchopin is absolutely right as well: consistent practice will work wonders. The only proviso is that you aim your practise at effortlesness. If you have the wrong movements, consistent practice will not make that much of a difference in how labored your playing is. However, you will know you are on the right path if as you practise, it becomes easier and easier (which seems to be allchopin's experience). Once you figure out the movements, do repeated note groups, which is a very good strategy for this study – but brace yourself: you will have to work in very small sections (7-10 thirds at a time) and it will look like it will take forever to master the full study. Fortunately there is a lot of repetition, so make sure you analyse (in the sense of identifying repeats) the study first to decrease your workload.
Thanks so much bernhard and everyone else who gave me lots of new things to try. Just a couple more questions: in fast scalar or arpeggiated apssages, in single notes that is, we all know its helpful to play groups in chords - to build up speed or accuracy - according to the hand position, so the practiced is that between those grouped chords. as its been said something like, "playing consecutive notes together in a chord is the fastest possible way to play them." I was wondering if such a pratice method would be useful, or practical, in this case, where it seems like so often the hand is going up an dover itself, and all about, hardly ever the fingers going in just one direction. i mean is it going to be a waste of time, to play a couple of thirds in a bunch, and then practice moving to the next bunch? or is that really not what this is about.The second questions is about trhe concept of repeated note groups, which i've seen mentioned in many posts. could someone point me to a prevous post, that explains exactly what thispractice method is? i haven't been able to deduce it from the few i've seen. THanks!!!!!!!andrew howzer
Speaking of which... did you ever get my last pm or just didn't feel like typing.
Sorry. I am having trouble opening the file (I get a "This page cannot be displayed message". I thought it might be some temporary internet thing and left it to try later. I've just tried it again, and it is still unavailable).
Finally, the movement you will end up using (which is to a certain extent personal) will also depend on the fingering you use. I strongly suggest you use Chopin;s original fingering, but if you look up Cortot’s “Edition de Travail”, he provides 10 different fingering possibilities (Chopin’s included) for you to investigate. He also has many interesting preparatory exercises for this study.Best wishes,Bernhard.
Topic: Digging up an old Bernhard post on thirds 