Withdrawing the hands from the keyboard

[rafant]

It's a matter of manners at the piano: Last note of the piece have just been played, then should the hands be withdrawn immediately, since the pedal is acting and prolonging the sound, or should they be held pressing the keys until all sound has extinguished?

[Kassaa]

It's a matter of manners at the piano: Last note of the piece have just been played, then should the hands be withdrawn immediately, since the pedal is acting and prolonging the sound, or should they be held pressing the keys until all sound has extinguished?

NEVER keep the pedal while not having your hands on the keyboard. You might get a dwzeeeiooooeeeng-like sound. I think the best is to get the hands of the keyboard and the feet of the pedal when you want the sound to end. (sorry for my clumsy explanation. )

[stevehopwood]

There is a performance implication here. Withdrawing our hands tends to alter our body posture - indicating to an audience that the performance has ended - they will start to clap.

If we are still holding the pedal at the same time, we are giving conflicting signals. The sound has not finished but the performance has; an audience will start applauding straight away.

Ending a performance of a piece that needs a pause after the sound finishes is pure theatre. Here is how to do it:

- play and hold the final chord.
- release the pedal and notes at the same time, but do not alter the body posture. The hands remain in contact with the keys, so the audience is not aware that contact is not being maintained.
- hold the body posture until the performance has finally ended. Retain the sound of the final chord in your mind. Remain involved with the music until you are ready to stand and take a bow. Audiences invariably cooperate.

Great fun to do 

Steve 

[Waldszenen]

I think it mainly depends on how the piece ends. If it's a loud bang, unsustained, such as the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, then you can just bang the chord down and swing your arms up (sort of like an energetic reaction). If it's a soft, sustained chord, then you should definitely keep your hands on the keys until you've actually finished.

[rafant]

Thanks to all of you for making me very clear the best way, both with audience and without it.