tiny hand

[bm1369]

I got extremely tiny hand and I can only play an octave with fingers, 1-5
Even after I play an octave, my hand (sometimes) hurts.
I had to quit learning Chopin Ballade no 1 because I couldn't play an octave quickly
Do you think I will be still able to play Chopin Ballades or scherzos?

[lostinidlewonder]

Don't torture yourself, small hands have it tough playing large intervals. You may indeed do yourself great disservice forcing yourself into constant excessive stretching. Play music which doesn't demand such large hands. One of my teachers could barely reach an octave also but she was exceptional at playing Bach who often wrote very small intricate positions. Of course if that music doesn't interest you this doesn't help your situation. Play pieces which predominantly fit your hand, play pieces which do challenge to stretch your hand but not constantly. It would be foolish to learn a piece full of octaves and large chords/arpeggios, it will just frustrate you and cause you pain. But certainly learn pieces which had some large intervals but gives you enough time to recover. There is a huge amount of repertoire for smaller hands and if you really do love playing certain pieces with large stretches maybe make some concessions cutting some notes here and there.

[p2u_]

I got extremely tiny hand and I can only play an octave with fingers, 1-5
Even after I play an octave, my hand (sometimes) hurts.
I had to quit learning Chopin Ballade no 1 because I couldn't play an octave quickly
Do you think I will be still able to play Chopin Ballades or scherzos?

I will not vote. I just want to say that hand size is not as important as many people (especially students) often think. It is true that with small hands, you HAVE TO be a better pianist. You don't always have to jump over an obstacle; you can often get around it.

Please watch this clip: Chopin Ballade No. 1, Charlie Liu (9). How big can that boy's hands be? Much more than an octave?
And here's Rachel (10) playing the same ballade. How big do you think her hands are?
Don't give up! Good luck.

Paul

[wnlqxod]

Trying to take octaves for granted is like trying to take fast playing for granted: you are trying to take something for granted that should not be taken for granted.
Let gravity help you sink into the keys, and let the natural recoil of the piano keys "bounce" your hand back off the keys, much like dribbling a basketball on the ground.
As for playing octaves with other fingers: do NOT try to "stretch" per se; tilt your wrist and tuck your elbow into your body to help place your finger on the correct spot.
Not every one of us have a gigantic hand like Garrick Ohlsson or Sviatoslav Richter. So, how do we play something like Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 1, No. 9, No. 11, Op. 25 No. 1, Op 25 No. 3, No. 4, etc.? Answer: by using the help from the elbow and the wrist.
Doing 1-5 is definitely easier to do on the white keys.
Doing 1-4 and 1-3 is definitely easier to do on the black keys.

[dinulip]

Please watch this clip: Chopin Ballade No. 1, Charlie Liu (9). How big can that boy's hands be? Much more than an octave?
And here's Rachel (10) playing the same ballade. How big do you think her hands are?
Don't give up! Good luck.

Paul

Sorry, Paul, but I am not convinced by these examples.  If you look carefully, you will see that little Rachel's hands are quite big.  As for Charlie, we don't see his hands.  However, given the number of wrong notes I hear, he must have smaller hands.  The Ballade is definitely too advanced for him.  It is okay for him to learn it if he feels like it, but I don't know why it is on YouTube.  I understand his teacher for not wanting to teach him that piece at this point in time.  He is obviously not ready for it.

[sasuke_10]

Sorry, Paul, but I am not convinced by these examples.  If you look carefully, you will see that little Rachel's hands are quite big.  As for Charlie, we don't see his hands.  However, given the number of wrong notes I hear, he must have smaller hands.  The Ballade is definitely too advanced for him.  It is okay for him to learn it if he feels like it, but I don't know why it is on YouTube.  I understand his teacher for not wanting to teach him that piece at this point in time.  He is obviously not ready for it.

Charlie's 9 years old. No 9 years old kid is ready for Chopin's ballade.