Hand Size

[forzaitalia250]

I've been playing the piano for twelve years now. Recently, I seem to have stopped growing all around and I have pretty small hands.

Reaching a tenth is quite a stretch, and i can't accurately hit notes inbetween the thumb and the pinky.

I've encountered a few pieces that include chords that I can't possibly reach. To compensate, I've either shortened the chord, or rolled it as quickly as I could. I more frequently do the latter to preserve the intended tone.

My question is then, which method is better (if either are even considered acceptable), and how much will this detract from the way my performances are viewed?

[m1469]

It definitely depends on the context of the chord and it's voicing/texture. 

I think that when we decide between these, we are deciding between aural, vertical texture and/vs aural, horizontal shaping.  Sometimes, given the content of the musical passage, preserving one over the other is more evidently important and will help you make your decision.  And, then, as far as performances go, the more you can preserve the originally intended sound, the better.  The point is to maintain the overall integrity of the passage as much as possible.

Another thing I have done is to take part of the chord in one chunk (or one note), like in the bass, and then play the rest of the chord in another chunk all at once (maybe the other three/four notes (whatever)) -- so, I am not rolling it, and I am not leaving anything out, though it's still an unoriginal sound.   I think this is something like what is called a "stride bass" ?

[daniloperusina]

I've never come across anyone objecting to arpeggiating chords in either your or m1469's way. And it should never give you any problems for exams, auditions, competitions etc. Leaving out notes or rearranging them, though, is a bit more risky, as it can be viewed as altering the composition.

In a concert you're on your own, of course, so you decide.

Alicia de Larrocha and Vladimir Aschkenazy are two famous pianists with small hands, and on their recordings you sometimes hear how they get around a stretch they can't reach. 

[amelialw]

you call your hands small. My hands are even smaller than an 8th and I can only play octaves fine when I fully stretch them out.
Hmm...it depends on what kind of piece or which composer. For Rachmaninoff, I always roll chords. For a few pieces that need that solid sound on the left hand I may drop 1 note, seldom do that though.

[spaciiey]

Those hands dont seem too small to me. I can only JUST reach an octave. Generally with big chords I prefer to roll them, or play some of the notes in my other hand, if it is close enough. It depends on what sounds better when you try both I think.

[diminished2nd]

Hmm... Yeah your hands sound about average to me, maybe a LITTLE smaller. I don't think rolling chords is a bad thing... Luckily, I didn't stop growing until I could stretch to an 11th or easily reach a 5 note 10th chord 

[nomis]

I've been playing the piano for twelve years now. Recently, I seem to have stopped growing all around and I have pretty small hands.

Reaching a tenth is quite a stretch, and i can't accurately hit notes inbetween the thumb and the pinky.

I've encountered a few pieces that include chords that I can't possibly reach. To compensate, I've either shortened the chord, or rolled it as quickly as I could. I more frequently do the latter to preserve the intended tone.

My question is then, which method is better (if either are even considered acceptable), and how much will this detract from the way my performances are viewed?

m1469 gives great advice. BTW, the great pianist Claudio Arrau used to roll chords that were larger than an octave, even though he could span an 11th. You're in the company of greatness!

[rimv2]

I've been playing the piano for twelve years now. Recently, I seem to have stopped growing all around and I have pretty small hands.

Reaching a tenth is quite a stretch, and i can't accurately hit notes inbetween the thumb and the pinky.

I've encountered a few pieces that include chords that I can't possibly reach. To compensate, I've either shortened the chord, or rolled it as quickly as I could. I more frequently do the latter to preserve the intended tone.

My question is then, which method is better (if either are even considered acceptable), and how much will this detract from the way my performances are viewed?

Some people can barely reach an 8th or 9th. You are fortunate.

[guendola]

When I was 14, I have been told by my teacher that my hands were large. They haven't changed much since and I can span a 10th.