Left hand in Chopin Fantasie Impromptu

[mariapap]

Hello,

I have a difficulty in playing Fantasie Impromptu that I'd like to share. I am currently working on this piece trying to improve my technique at the same time, as I had a bad teacher in the past who left me some "scars"..(pretty bad technique).  I don't have a problem playing the two hands together, but I can't decide on which fingerings to use for the left-hand-triplets that are repeated and are to be found for instance in the 4th bar. I have found it online as being 5-3-2-1-2-3, but my teacher says that it would be better to use 5-3-1-2-1-3. What would you advise me on this? Should the left hand playing be facilitated by the movement of the elbow? I think I've seen that on some videos.

I would appreciate your advice on that.
Thank you

[quantum]

I would only suggest 5-3-1-2-1-3 if you have a particularly small hand and have trouble with 5-3-2-1-2-3.  The LH is supposed to be very fluid, and having a crossing could take away from that.  The odd crossing can be OK but I would not suggest doing it throughout the piece unless you have much trouble with 5-3-2-1-2-3. 

Having a crossing also takes away from the from the visualization of a single chord as you have to pay attention to where you place the 1 and where you cross the 2. 

Use a flexible wrist, you do not need to span all notes to play a solid chord.  Rotate the wrist as the arpeggiaged chord progresses.  Always have the wrist remain supple.

[mariapap]

Thank you very much! Your advice was really useful!

[dan101]

A flexible wrist is, of course, useful. The L. H. motion is a lateral one. Great piece... have fun.

[gorucan]

I wouldn´t use 5-3-1-2... because even if You have small hand You will be able to manage playing 5-3-2-1... the trick is, try sitting a bit further away of piano, go back a little =)

[mcdiddy1]

If you think about whether you have the same size hands as your piano teacher the answer is probably know. You have to come up with your own fingerings regardless of what anyone says as long as it is sensible and serves the passage musically, Try both ways and see the benefit of each one to decide on which one is best. Your elbow should give support to your hand with your fingers doing all the work of actually playin the notes

[perfect_pitch]

I have found it online as being 5-3-2-1-2-3, but my teacher says that it would be better to use 5-3-1-2-1-3. What would you advise me on this?

OK... I have fairly small hands for a guy and I can sort of reach a 10th on the piano... It's bloody hard to do it with my LH so my hands aren't really big...

I can however do the fingering 5 3 2 1 2 3.... so I think there's no real excuse for using the other one that your teacher suggested. Unless you were say 10 years old... I

Learn to loosen up your wrist and it should help with playing.