Repeated Note technique

[chopin2015]

Are you/do you think it is faster to repeat notes with same finger or to switch fingering? (Looking at Prokofiev Toccata, in case you need detail).
  Pieces are always slow when I am memorizing/learning new things about the music but I am new to this work so I would like your input on this-THANKS!!!!

[j_menz]

If you want to go fast, you need to switch fingers. Feels kinda awkward at the start, but one finger simply won't cut it at speed.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Like J Menz said, you gotta switch fingers when hitting repeated notes fast.  

Besides, it looks cooler that way!  It ALWAYS impresses people.  

*guy blasts through 24 Chopin etudes*

Crowd:  dude you're so awesome!

You:  oh so you think you're cool huh?  Step aside, let me show you how it's done!

*you play one note with repeated fingers really fast*

Crowd:  the messiah is here!!!

*crowd gets on their knees and bows down to you*


Hehehe lol

[j_menz]

Like J Menz said, you gotta switch fingers when hitting repeated notes fast.  

Besides, it looks cooler that way!  It ALWAYS impresses people.  

*guy blasts through 24 Chopin etudes*

Crowd:  dude you're so awesome!

You:  oh so you think you're cool huh?  Step aside, let me show you how it's done!

*you play one note with repeated fingers really fast*

Crowd:  the messiah is here!!!

*crowd gets on their knees and bows down to you*

Some girl after the bowing session:  hey can you father my child?

Hehehe lol

Dude, you REALLY got to cut down. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Dude, you REALLY got to cut down.  

I was just reading a book and it kinda related to this little skit.

[ajspiano]

*splluuurrrrrge of teenager.

That's how I pick up..  ..or at least, that's how I used to, when I was a teenager and couldn't talk intelligently in the presence of girls..

..

No, seriously. SING, DANCE or BE FUNNY even if you suck at it - those are the winners.

I don't care how good your repeated notes are, the girl will choose the dancing funny guy. Or if she's into musicians..  she'll choose the guy with good repeated notes that also sings, dances and is funny.

#AJ's guide to teenage relationships.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

That's how I pick up..  ..or at least, that's how I used to, when I was a teenager and couldn't talk intelligently in the presence of girls..

..

No, seriously. SING, DANCE or BE FUNNY even if you suck at it - those are the winners.

I don't care how good your repeated notes are, the girl will choose the dancing funny guy. Or if she's into musicians..  she'll choose the guy with good repeated notes that also sings, dances and is funny.

#AJ's guide to teenage relationships.

What the heck?!  This was all based off of a book I was reading!

There changed it?!  

But ANYWAYS the moral of the story is...

...
...
...

When you played fast repeated notes.  You have to switch fingers.

That's what I was getting at!

[ajspiano]

...I liked the first version.

The moral of my story can be practice the piano more, for the following reasons.

The pitch skills will improve your singing.
The rhythmic skills will improve your dancing.
The multi-tasking will make you a fast thinker (needed to be quick witted and funny).

And do the changing fingers thing..  because that's how you play repeated notes quickly.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

...I liked the first version.

Really?  I thought you and J Menz didn't like it!

[j_menz]

Really?  I thought you and J Menz didn't like it!

I found it entertaining. Somewhat overstated. But entertaining.

I actually suspect if you do repeated notes really quickly and as directed (changing fingers - gee I wish I'd said that earlier    ) the audience generally won't even know what you are doing.

[ajspiano]

the audience generally won't even know what you are doing.

I've had a students mother be significantly more impressed by my ability to play BWV anh. 114 over my ability to play a chopin etude.

[j_menz]

I've had a students mother be significantly more impressed by my ability to play BWV anh. 114 over my ability to play a chopin etude.

I've long suspected that beyond a certain level of musical complexity, and that includes speed, it requires some practice for the listener to even begin to decipher it. Anything much beyond that is in some sense the same perceived degree of difficulty (ie, incomprehensibly so).

No doubt she was more impressed by the simple Bach piece because she could understand how beautifully you could play it and be moved by the music. The Chopin would have just been a blur to her.

[danhuyle]

Using the same finger on repeated notes, you'll strain your arm.

Alternating fingering, you'll be able to play repeated quicker and with much more ease.

Have a play of Scarlatti Sonata in D Minor. It's the one in repeated notes and see what works for you. I don't know the K number to that. Someone here has played it.

[chopin2015]

Thanks for your replys, all! I will let you know how it goes. The repeated note thing will take a little extra time to master though, why does every piece I try to learn have some new difficulty in it? 

[j_menz]

Why does every piece I try to learn have some new difficulty in it? 

Haha, get used to it. That doesn't stop.

[davidjosepha]

Haha, get used to it. That doesn't stop.

I don't think I'd enjoy piano half as much if it did