How long does it take?

[nocturnelover]

  I was just wondering how long with an average or a little over average practice does it take to get decent evenness in the fingers?? Cos I've been playing about a year and only this month been able to play on a proper piano whenever I want. Also has anyone when they were starting out done some excercises and then find that briefly you felt the independancy in your fingers?? The reason why I ask is because I'm playing Bach invention no. 8 for 5 th grade and the relationship of my fourth and third finger is weak and generally the fourth finger is just plain weak. As well as when I practice scales one hand always goes faster........it really bothers me!!!!!

[mephisto]

Do you practice scales hands-seperatly?

[nocturnelover]

Yes I do separately and together I'm just unsure of how exactly to fix the problem unless I play them really really slowly!!!

[cloches_de_geneve]

Yes I do separately and together I'm just unsure of how exactly to fix the problem unless I play them really really slowly!!!

Part of the problem is that your technique is simply not developed enough at this stage. But finger indpendency is a vast problem even for accomplished pianists. You may want to consult the 4,5 finger-independency-thread in the performance section.

If you want a "quick fix", then I think you are on the right track. Send your pride and musicality on vacation for a week. Just play the invention about 10 to 15 times every day very, very slowly as if it were "Adagio" (if it takes you less than 3 minutes to play it, your are way too fast). Do not even think to play it at tempo during this time, same with the scales. Chances are that, when you speed it up again in a week, you will be surprised.

[nightingale11]

the solution to your problem lies in the posts of Bernhard, here are some of them.

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5767.msg56133.html#msg56133
(huge collection of links)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,9159.msg92755.html#msg92755
(m1469s index of the forum)

[ramseytheii]

the solution to your problem lies in the posts of Bernhard, here are some of them.

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5767.msg56133.html#msg56133
(huge collection of links)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,9159.msg92755.html#msg92755
(m1469s index of the forum)

I'm glad to see these links are coming back in circulation.  Too often these days a person asks a good question, only to get the answer, "The problem is your technique."  What a cop-out non-answer.  It's much better to provide these links, to satisfy Ravel's dictum, "If you have nothing to say, better to say that which has already been said before, and better."

Walter Ramsey

[nocturnelover]

I would also like to know whether it is normal for your hands, wrists etc to hurt after playing for a while? I tend to play for an hour or two without stopping. Is there a limit when your just starting on how long you can play for like an hour a day?

[nightingale11]

I would also like to know whether it is normal for your hands, wrists etc to hurt after playing for a while? I tend to play for an hour or two without stopping. Is there a limit when your just starting on how long you can play for like an hour a day?

Have you got a teacher?
1st, You are maybe using inappropriate motions.
2nd, There is no reason to practice 2 hours non-stop. because it's very ineffiecient. Read through Bernhard's posts on organising, planning, practicing etc. The answer is out there.

[nocturnelover]

Yes I have a teacher actually I've just had a change of teacher because my one had left which is good because I wasn't happy with my teacher, now I have a classical pianist for a teacher. He's very good, he told me to play hanon but very quickly because he said the only way you can develop finger independence is if you learn how to control them under speed!

[nightingale11]

Yes I have a teacher actually I've just had a change of teacher because my one had left which is good because I wasn't happy with my teacher, now I have a classical pianist for a teacher. He's very good, he told me to play hanon but very quickly because he said the only way you can develop finger independence is if you learn how to control them under speed!

You may want to have a look here:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5352.msg50998.html

[mike_lang]

For me, the evenness of the scale (and of sound in general) is a question of the un-withheld transfer of weight into keys.  I suggest you have a look at the section on the gravity drop in C.C. Chang's book "Fundamentals of Piano Practice" (www.pianofundamentals.com) or at Alan Fraser's book "The Craft of Piano Playing."

Best Wishes,
Michael

[nocturnelover]

thank you all very much

I had a look at Bernard's theory and technique involving scales I get a bit confused in some points but overall I agree with what he says, now the challenge is to try and replicate it at the piano!!