whats the right one?

[lufia]

I been taught by 2 teachers on how to play staccato scales
Heres the difference. 1 of them makes me play it with the wrist flying highly up which is extremely difficult but he can do it. The other teacher plays it normally without much movement of the wrist moving up which is much easier. Which is the correct on?

[allchopin]

#2 - the less movement, the better, always (given that the same sound is produced).

[lufia]

cheers

[pianonut]

i always thought staccatos were a quick down up movement of the finger.  my teacher minimizes it further to make it sort of like the piano is rejecting your finger.  if you imagine this, there is less space needed between your finger and the note to begin a staccato. in fact, you can even rest your finger on the note and make staccato sound.  if you have octaves, you can still stay close to the keys.  with a little flex in your wrist, you won't get sore - but you don't have to bend it.  more like a little wave of the hand.

[Barbosa-piano]

 I try to think of it as plucking the strings of a violin, only plucking keys... High speed staccatos can become a little difficult, as the downward scale run a while after the entrance of Solo piano in Chopin's Concerto No. 1. I like the descriptions of staccato above  . I don't think there is any magic or akward "special position" to play a staccato note. Maybe the teacher that told you about the 1st way wanted to avoid wrist tension... But I believe that the 2nd way is a more reliable one.