Left hand technique problem

[mdshimazu]

So I've had a running problem of when i play certain passages with the left hand the wrist gets too high and the knuckles flatten out. So I've been working on correcting that, bring down the wrist and making sure that the knuckles are bent, so it'll look just like my right hand. However whenever i do it, my muscles from the forearm on down all tense up and thus make the playing very slow, and so far I haven't been able to prevent it. I won't be seeing my teacher again till next Monday, so i was kinda hoping to fix it before I see her again.

[richy321]

It's probably impossible to tell from your description just what the problem is.  It's probably physiological.  These are the things that a teacher is supposed to help you with.  So bring it up at the next lesson.  Perhaps it is not a problem at all, or perhaps she will have some ideas for you to try, but hands-on is the only way to deal with it.

[marco_from_brazil]

you might try to find an Alexander technique teacher to try to work on that tension cropping up when you most need it loose and relaxed. I had some classes, had to stop because of money, but I was really liking it, I think I'm going back to it, matter of fact.

[term]

Sounds like you have a problem with your posture. (is that the correct word :-? )
Maybe the whole left side of your body is significantly different from your right side. Thats the case with me and it can cause some trouble with left hand technique. If that is the problem, try to sit straight but absolutely relaxed so that you can "feel" your left arm and the hand better. That's how i did it, just try until you find a relaxed position with both arms & hands being in exactly the same position and feeling the same, so you can concentrate on the left as good as on the right.

I guess differences between left-right position are always due to wrong posture...

[pianistimo]

dear mdshimazu,

my left hand is still weaker than my right hand - but advice for gaining the most from the left hand?  i would say - don't sit too close to the piano.  if this is not the problem -also consider just leaving your fingers flat.  there's a natural flatness that is just slightly curved and doesn't allow the knuckles to invert. 

my teacher explained it to me - like this:  'stand up.  walk around and move your arms as you would when you naturally walk.  now, sit down.  leave your arm at one end of the bench hanging down naturally.  let me pick this arm up - without your moving or attempting anything.  let it continue to be relaxed.  (places hand on keyboard).  this is what you should feel throughout your neck, arm, hand when placed onto the keyboard.' 

sometimes we sort of have this 'fly grip' where the tips of the fingers feel like they have a sort of fly paper stick to them - but even that doesn't really have a tension to it.  it's a sort of connection we bring from note to note.  like as though you are doing light to medium massage.

[henrah]

If you've had no problems whatsoever in playing your LH with a high wrist and flat knuckles, and it hasn't bought you any tension or limits of any kind, then I'd say to stick with it. Sometimes being conservative is a good thing.

However, if you find any limitations from playing your LH with a high wrist and flat knuckles that you think you'll be able to overcome with a low wrist and bent knuckles, practice a run slowly making sure you completely relax between each note and take as much time as you need to relax. Eventually you'll be able to play that run fast in your new wrist and knuckle positions without any tension problems. Also talking to your teacher about it will be good. But as far as I see it, if playing with a high wrist and flat knuckles isn't limiting your playing whatsoever, keep with it despite what your teacher might say. The biology of your left arm/hand might just be different to your right and other people's left.
Henrah