Liszt Causes Finger Problem

[johnjwong]

Help guys, I started playing La Campanella by Liszt a few days ago and i believe this piece caused me finger problem.  The problem is that my pinky and my 2nd last finger, when i crawl them down to a fist, they tend to attract into a place where i can not control them.  I have to purhs really hard to release a fist.  Seems like my pinky and my 2nd last finger is stucked when crawling down, almost finishing the fist.  And I can't move them when they are stuck, i have to go real hard to get them back up.

[Antnee]

I don't quite understand.. but if you're saying you're fingers are sticking in a fist position then try stretching them out a bit. If it continues then quit Campanella... You'll hurt yourself. If it still continues have it checked...
I've never heard of anything like this before...

-Tony-

[xvimbi]

Help guys, I started playing La Campanella by Liszt a few days ago and i believe this piece caused me finger problem.  The problem is that my pinky and my 2nd last finger, when i crawl them down to a fist, they tend to attract into a place where i can not control them.  I have to purhs really hard to release a fist.  Seems like my pinky and my 2nd last finger is stucked when crawling down, almost finishing the fist.  And I can't move them when they are stuck, i have to go real hard to get them back up.

First of all, Liszt doesn't cause finger problems. Your technique does!  

Your problem sounds a bit weird. You don't have any problems with finger 3? I am asking, because fingers 3 and 4 are coupled in many ways. Often, if you have problems with one you also have problems with the other. If it's muscular fatigue to the stage where you cramp up at the extremes (and therefore can't move your fingers anymore) I would expect it to affect more than just those two fingers. Tennis elbow (constriction of the nerves at the elbow) will affect mostly the outer fingers. A nerve problem could explain your inability to move those fingers, but I doubt you have acquired this condition from a couple of days of La Campanella. You would also have numb or tingling fingers.

[Daniel_piano]

Help guys, I started playing La Campanella by Liszt a few days ago and i believe this piece caused me finger problem.

Are you sure you have the basis and the tecnique to play this piece
Here in Italy it is a 9 grade piece and it's practiced by students who have passed through both Well Temperes Clavier volumes, All Gradus ad Parnassum volumes, harpsichord italian repertoire, Bach Suites, Fugues and Concerto, many studies and sonatas from Beethoven, Haydn, Weber, Schubert, Scarlatti, Rachmaninov, Saint-Saens, Mozart, Skrjabin, Sgambati, Ravel, Balakirev, Chabrier, Franck, Bartol and Gluck
Before playing the Campanella at my conservatory you're required to own Solfege and Harmony diploma, to know piano hystory and to make the memorized analized of four piano concertos as well as having a complete sight-reading formation  

I've known many students with tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome for playing piece above their level
Ironically two of them got severe tendonitis (and they were suggested by their orthopedic not to play piano for 4 months) trying to play the La Campanella
Other got injuried with Cramer n.29, Lizt Mephisto Waltz and Thalberg n. 1
So be sure that this piece is at a level of harmony, music theory, relaxation, knowledge of different style and tecnique that is not too above yours

Are you studying in a university or at the conservatory ?
What grade are you at ?
In reaching this grade have passed through the whole accademic (including solfege, dictation, ear training, choral exercitazion and harmony) program ?

Daniel

[johnjwong]

Well, I am in grade 10 Royal Conservatory in Canada.  I finished playing Fantasia Impromptu, and I thought I will be able to play La Campanella too...

[Daniel_piano]

Well, I am in grade 10 Royal Conservatory in Canada.  I finished playing Fantasia Impromptu, and I thought I will be able to play La Campanella too...

What a mess with all this different grade and body examination
I knew that Fantasie-Imprmptu was a 7 grade piece (on second though a 9 grade piece but not a virtuosic diploma piece like Gaspard de La Nuit)
And what is 10 grade in Canada ?
Is it the diploma year ?
Or you have also a 11, 12 and 13 grade ?

You said you though you were ready for la Campanella but isn't your teacher supposed to guide through each piece and tell you when you're ready for certain pieces ?
And also, didn't your teacher give you suggestion on how to practice and conquer the hard sections of the piece ?

It seems to me that your teacher is not much involved
My suggestion is to wait before get any injuries and to talk with your teacher about the problem you're having

By the way, since you're from Canada could you please post your PIANO PROGRAM and the SYLLABUS from your school in the "piano programs and grades" thread ?
We have the italian and the Uk program and syllabus
We're curious to know how the grade work in Canada

Daniel