Scales

[8426]

About a month ago me and my teacher decided to play only scales and Czerny.

Is this good? Should I practice a piece also?

What are good exercises/rythms for scales? To gain more fluidity and so on.

 I also have trouble with the ascension of the left hand. In ascension of right hand I can "arm walk," but when it is on the left my body blocks it and I have to move my hip. This tenses my right side.

[jlh]

About a month ago me and my teacher decided to play only scales and Czerny.

Is this good? Should I practice a piece also?

What are good exercises/rythms for scales? To gain more fluidity and so on.

 I also have trouble with the ascension of the left hand. In ascension of right hand I can "arm walk," but when it is on the left my body blocks it and I have to move my hip. This tenses my right side.

Do you have the same trouble descending with the right hand?

Is this a new teacher for you?  What caused them to completely keep you from playing anything but exercises and scales? 

I'm having trouble picturing your exact set of body movements leading up to the tension you mentioned.  Any possible way to upload a video or something?  That's why I asked about the descending right hand.  When your right hand is ascending (as you mentioned) your hand is moving away from your body, so naturally you won't have the same problem with your right hand ascending as you do your left hand ascending...  see my point?

[m]

Indeed, when you go up whole your body is on the way of your left hand, causing it to strain. Maybe instead of moving your hips try to get your body slightly back and to the right. But again, as JLH has rightly suggested, to see exactly where the problem is and give you any solution some video would be nice just to see what is happening.

Best, M

[kyliec]

Hi, I tend to think that not playing any actual pieces is a recipe for boredom and demotivation. Music is WHY we play piano and you can learn much more from learning and interpreting pieces that any exercises. That said, technical work can be useful as an additional way of developing your skills.

I'd definitely encourage you to continue learning pieces (maybe up to 3 or 4 at a time) to keep your interest up and develop your artistic skills as opposed to just technique.

Hope this helps, Kylie

[8426]

I am hoping that one advanced in the physiology of this will answer me.

To make a video would be kind of hard. I will see what I can do concerning that, but for right now.

(Please correct if wrong.)

If you can't reach a key comfortably (for the left hand comfort would be around the octave below middle c):

1. (This is more suitable for moving away from the body.)

You can either "arm walk," move the forearm in a straight line along the piano, as if wanting to maintain the same arm position.

2. (More suitable towards moving in the body.)
Make your hands slightly angle outwards, instead of the normal straight position

|
and opposite the
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you do
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3. Or if you don't want to do these you can move your hand in, and into the black keys part of the piano.

Am I right? Hard to tell?

Now, I decided of my own free will that I would only do scales and studies. I am not afraid of losing any musicality.
My motivation would be the results: Higher concentration, relaxation, ease of hard scale like passages, and I would be using what I learned in a study.

What reasons would I have to play a piece? Cannot those reasons be summed up in a study? Would I not gain more by this?

Obviously the end purpose is to make music (for God's glory).
So I would do this as a preparation for what is coming, and so that I am not overwhelmed by a piece when it arrives.

My reasoning may be wrong, please give me your reasons if it is.




                                                               

[go12_3]

Musicality comes from within and the technique comes from hard work by practicing the scales,etc, along with several good classical pieces.