Developping finger dexterity

[BuyBuy]

Hey guys !

I've always have a problem with fast single notes sections : my fingers seem to go crazy, miss many notes, sound uneven etc. in pieces like Schubert impromptu op.90 nš2, or the last part of Chopin 2nd impromptu... I can play an arpeggio or a scale pretty fast, but if it keeps going and going, I loose control and I get confused.

Sometimes I can play that kind of section pretty well, but the next day it's messy.

So, can anyone help me to know how to develop a good finger dexterity for fast pieces ? Is there any tip to play those properly ? Any studies or exercices recommanded ? Thanks.

[R.Q.]

Well, the best way to get eveness and control on these things is (of course) to practice really, really slowly. Sometimes when we get a fast piece, we flub it because we mistake recklessness for speed - we throw our hands up and down and generally have way to much momentum. Actually, playing evenly makes our run and arpeggios much faster sounding (and its sound we're after right?). But like I said, the best way to get control is - and I quote Leschetiszky - "practice 50% slower 75% of the time!"

The best stuff to play for control training is Mozart, and I have found Clementi's gradus ad parnassum taken at a fast tempo is a wonderful trainer! Every Liszt, Schubert, and Chopin hopeful should have a basic training in the classics like I just mentioned, then you'll have no problems.

~ Young Virtuoso

[tph]

Hi,

Speed control is often a question of how quickly you can think.  Slow practise allows you to play a work and still be in conscious control of your sound and movement.  A prerequisite for developing controlled speed, in my experience, is always to practise with a solid sense of rhythm.  Rhythm will help you to define the character of a work or passage, and help you unify physical speed with musical intention.  Also, one should always work with one's inner ear (i.e. the imagined sound you want to produce before playing a note), which will also help you to improve the mental control of your movements - this requires immense concentration.

Possible advice for endurance is to find points of tension and relaxation.  Example of these would be a place where the arm or wrist motion change direction (like in scale- or arpeggio-passages).  Also, to break down passages in units, and string consecutive units together, one by one, can help to build endurance (remember to finish a unit on a relatively firm beat, so that you release the tension comfortably).

Good luck,

tph