Playing in between the black keys

[this_guy]

Hi I'm a second year(i guess) piano student, and have been playing mainly Bach and some easy Chopin peaces.

My new teacher suggests hitting the white keys up in the skinny part and she plays sometimes at the very top of the white key, while my old teacher was more into playing  on the fat parts of the white keys, so im kinda confused which is right.

I understand it is nearly impossible to play certain chords without using the skinny part of the white keys (i.e. Chopin Prelude 28, #4), but is there a real correct way of playing the white keys? Or is it just preference?

I was thinking perhaps i should start doing my Hanon exercises which only use the white keys, hitting the keys in the middle, at the tip of the black keys, so that i can get used to the 'feel' of the keys.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Chris.

[thierry13]

Well, you can not play only one. For certain chords you have to go in the skinny part. But playing in this part ALLWAYS is (imo) a VERY bad habit. First of all your fingers can get bloked betwin two black keys when moving the hand. You must play on both parts of the white keys to have a good playing. This not depends of any preferences, but more on the piece you play.

[alvaro_galvez]

Thats right, but if the piece or chord requires that u play the skinny part of the keys then keep your fingers very high over the keyboard so you dont get stuck or accidently play black keys.

[this_guy]

That's what i thought, thanks, I guess knowing what part of the white keys to use should come naturally.