Playing Hand Position

[zhiliang]

Hi,

I would like hear all of your opinions and view on hand playing position. For me i try to play with a lower wrist though more often that not it tends to go up. Also, i play with flatter fingers with regards to cantabile passages or to produce a more singing tone due to the bigger surface in contact with the keyboard. I play with my fingertips when i want to produce a more crisp and clear articulation and of course there is a range in between these 2 extremes.

I experience difficulties in fast, virtuosic passages and can do so much better when it comes to a slower and more singing piece. Its like i will hit a speed wall. So pieces like Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1 and some Liszt etudes, i am unable to go beyond a certain speed. Is this due partially to the problem in my hand position or is it due to the too much use of arm weight and strength from the other muscles that is crushing the horozontal movement so important in running passages?

Thank you so much. I would really hope everyone can share their idea on this.

Zhiliang

[Clare]

I don't know whether this is the right way, but if I've got a fast, running passage to do I'll usually use a high wrist, and of course move it left or right according to which way I'm going. I find that a high wrist for these sorts of things is easier because the notes are usually close together and a high wrist means the fingers won't get in the way of each other.
I think that if your wrist is wanting to go up there's usually a good reason for it (though not always). Generally, I use a reasonably high wrist.

[zhiliang]

I don't know whether this is the right way, but if I've got a fast, running passage to do I'll usually use a high wrist, and of course move it left or right according to which way I'm going. I find that a high wrist for these sorts of things is easier because the notes are usually close together and a high wrist means the fingers won't get in the way of each other.
I think that if your wrist is wanting to go up there's usually a good reason for it (though not always). Generally, I use a reasonably high wrist.

Yeah in a way, i agree totally with that. There is this tendency to play fast passages with my fingertips and also naturally a higher wrist so as to be able to go faster and more articulation. Just wondering... Did Horowitz play fast passages with a flat fingered approach? Or is it actually with the fingertips but looks flat only to the audience?

Zhiliang

[Askenaz7]

Use high wrist for fast passages and don't move your hand up and down if you want to play good legato

[zhiliang]

Use high wrist for fast passages and don't move your hand up and down if you want to play good legato

But shouldnt the wrist moves up and down slightly to accomodate the fingers whenever needed?

Do all of you use flat fingered approach too?

Zhiliang

[Askenaz7]

Of course.It 's up to you when you should use it.I didn't mean to play all the time with this way.
Why are you take the extremity?
This technique use the Russian school for succeed the legato quick passages