Weight Transference - what is this?

[green]

What does this mean really? How and when do u use it?

[bitus]

I believe it has to do with balance and hand position, but i'd rather wait for Bernard's reply
The Bitus.

[anda]

i'm not sure you mean what i think you mean (bad english, sorry), but here's what i think: it concerns transfering the weight of the arm from one finger to another, and, if done correctly, it results in a nice legato and good dynamics. most common mistake i have seen in my students is releasing the weight of the arm in the moment of the attack and then sustaining the arm until tthe next note (when they release it again). best exercise i could come up with for this is:

close the lid of the piano, place your hand on the lid in corect position and let all your arm's weight on finger#1 - you should feel how the whole arm stays on the top of the finger. then slowly place finger #1 moving the weight from #1 to #2. continue with all fingers all combination of fingers, focusing on feeling the weight of the arm moving from on finger to another. then repeat this whole exercise on your leg or your other arm - helps you feel if you've transfered the weight correctly - no gaps.

[bitus]

hm... tried what you said, but it seems to me this way you are putting too much presure on the fingers. Weight should be controled from the upper arm, so that you can control the amount of tension and force you have in your fingers. I don't see how you can have a loose wrist if your arm's weight is supported by the fingers. However, the idea seems to be the same, and we might just have difficulties of explaining what we do in practice , not to take in consideration the language.
The Bitus.

[green]

Yes, bitus your intuition is right. I asked because I wanted to see how others 'interpret' this concept. It is really a very 'suspicious' idea weight transference.

if done correctly, it results in a nice legato and good dynamics

most common mistake i have seen in my students is releasing the weight of the arm in the moment of the attack and then sustaining the arm until tthe next note

let all your arm's weight on finger#1 - you should feel how the whole arm stays on the top of the finger. then slowly place finger #1 moving the weight from #1 to #2. continue with all fingers all combination of fingers, focusing on feeling the weight of the arm moving from on finger to another

How does this result in 'nice legato' and 'good dynamics'? Or how is the 'common mistake' different than the way u show ur stds to learn this idea? Releasing the weight slowly as opposed to too fast?

[anda]

first you have to learn how to release all the arm's weight on one finger - than you start practicing releasing less or more weight (as needed).

most common mistake is not transfering the weight of the arm from one finger to another but leaving the arm on each finger - that's what destroys the legato.

how does that result in a "nice legato"? you'll have to see for yourself - i'm afraid not even a bernhard-sized post couldn't explain what i show my students in a few minutes as for dynamics - i tell my students the difference between p and f is how much of your arm's weight you let get on fingers.

i'm not sure i explained this clear - sorry, poor english...

[fuchs77]

hi , there
want to join in a bit .
I actually learned , that the fingertips should just lightly KISS the keys , forearm gently hovering over the keyboard , no weight at all  down to the ground of the keyboard !
Am I alone with this ??

[monk]

Hi fuchs77,

the important question is:

Did you seriously try other approaches?
Did you try out the sound difference between playing with or without weight?
And did you yourself come to the conclusion that the approach described by you functions best for you?

Then fine.

But if you just do what your teacher said (or more correctly: what you think your teacher said), then you are not a serious pianist, but just a guy who happens to "have learned to play the piano". And your playing will never be great, will never have personal charisma.

Best Wishes,
Monk

[newsgroupeuan]

hi , there
want to join in a bit .
I actually learned , that the fingertips should just lightly KISS the keys , forearm gently hovering over the keyboard , no weight at all  down to the ground of the keyboard !
Am I alone with this ??

I just do what works..if you have to transfer weight do that

[donjuan]

Almost everything my teacher says revolves around this idea of weight transference.  

The reason why it is so effective is because it is the best and most logical way to bring out a melody, prevent fatigue, and  play evenly.

In arpeggios, for example... the hand should feel as though it is falling to the left or right, and the elbow must move to catch it.  A more vivid sense of this is when you stand up, lean forward...forward ....FORWARD....NOT moving the feet....eventually you will have the urge to fall forward and catch yourself with your foot stepping out.  This is a natural reflex.  If we can harness this reflex and apply it to the piano, we can play much more comfortably and truly feel free at the piano.

 If I am nervous before a performance, the trembling fingers can be controlled by playing piano- putting my hands upon the keyboard like you would put hands on a table.  
I believe weight transference is the key to making music, instead of "playing" piano like you would type on a computer keyboard.
donjuan

[leyton]

I have a question about this.  If one is correctly transferring the weight, then does the hand kind of swoop about?  Say I'm arpeggiating a simple four-note chord or something... should there be an arc-like motion to my hand?

[donjuan]

Yes, you should exaggerate the motion to begin with, but as time passes by, you will feel the motion without actually doing it.  This way, no one would have to see it, just so long as you feel it.  It's mental  work.--> No technical exercise will achieve it..It will come in time.  I know this sounds hippylike, but it's the only way to play comfortably.
donjuan

[namui]

What does this mean really? How and when do u use it?

I'm probably have too little experience to discuss this. However, I have spent the last few months investigating this matter as well. I believe I know how to use the weight now, but still too far from being able to describe it precisely.

You may try reading some of these links

https://www.musicreform.com/files/piano01.html

https://www.artofpracticing.com/bookexcerpts.html

I remember once reading a (web)page about release the weight (or force) of key depress as soon as possible, but can't remember where it is.

This doesn't mean that all the mentioned articles are correct. They are just related to what you ask, so it might be somewhat useful to you.