Mission: Almost Impossible

[in_love_with_liszt]

Well I think it's time I start listening to everyone. I just gave another performance, this time for some professors, and they all commented that I had extraordinary technique and interperetation, but when playing I looked "overly stiff" with "extreme curvature to the fingers" that didn't look flowing and natural. This has prompted my teacher to try to get me to flatten out my fingers more, but I don't think she understands just how hard that is for me. I know I posted something along these lines before, but I really need help!   The problem I currently have with playing with flat fingers is that the joints (mostly the top joint of the fingers) collapse. If I try to keep them from collapsing by playing with my fingers in "double jointed" position(where the first knuckle is flat and the top knuckle is bent), I am incredibly tense and not efficient in the least when playing. And yet when I take my teacher's advice to just relax, the whole collapsing issue arises. Please, I really am on the verge of going insane about this, and desperately need some advice on how I can do this; I just don't know what to do!

[liszmaninopin]

I think that perhaps what you need to apply is a sort of selective tension.  First, just set your hands in front of you on your desk, supporting them with your wrist, but in a natural, relaxed position.  This is your resting position.  At least when I play, I try to stay as close to a resting, neutral position as possible.  Use just enough stiffness to maintain that position against the pressure of the keys, and not more, which will lead to excess tension.  Basically, apply enough force so that your hands don't collapse, but not so much force that it causes bad form or becomes unpleasant.  I hope I've explained this well enough...certainly Bernhard could give you some useful imput.

[in_love_with_liszt]

Well I did it, I practiced tonight trying to flatten my fingers. I think it will take some getting used to, I think my muscles we kinda cramped up after being held in a curve for so long. I noticed that you are able to create a much wider range of tones that way, I was really quite amazed. And it is much, much easier to maintain clear melodies when you have multiple layers on one hand. Well I would still appreciate any advice on playing with flat fingers, I have a feeling this won't be easy...

[liszmaninopin]

I didn't really think that playing with flat fingers was desireable-I've always tried to maintain the natural resting position of my hand, not forcing it to be higher or flatter.

However, then I take a big chord, I do need to flatten it.  Really, all I do is stretch my hand to the necessary chord, no flatter.  Then, I apply just enough tension (one feels it in the bottom of the forearm) to support the hand.

Just how flat are you trying to get your fingers?

[in_love_with_liszt]

Sorry, when I say flat I don't mean completely flat, rather I should say flatter. Before I was usually striking the keys at close to a 90 degree angle all the time.

[allchopin]

Sorry, when I say flat I don't mean completely flat, rather I should say flatter. Before I was usually striking the keys at close to a 90 degree angle all the time.

Um, can you post a picture of this?  I have to see this..