The ultimate showdown- Arm school vs Finger school- updated

[wnlqxod]

I personally have been trained in both methods.
Now, I'm an advocate of "do-what's-right-so-long-as-it-does-not-impede-your-playing-in-any-way" school.  

To me, both schools have their merits, and tend to make certain aspects of life easier while making another aspect harder.

Also, I wonder if it's only me, but repertoire often dictates what part of my body that I'm going to use more.
For example, Baroque~Classical~very early Romantic era stuff requires very precise finger work and articulation. On the other hand, as you progress further into the Romantic era and ultimately move into 20th Century stuff, it ain't just about the finger work anymore; there are more moments where getting the arms and wrists more involved is definitely a necessity.
One cannot aim to rely solely on precise fingerwork to play wide, sweeping intervals of the more "modern" (i.e. more modern than early Romantic) stuff;
likewise, one cannot aim to just "arm" everything and hope for the best on the tight, sixteen notes of ye olde days of Baroque and Classical era stuff.

As mentioned by one of the replies, the finger and hand are forever married to the wrist, arm, and the torso, and only by working in harmony can one aim to achieve the optimum results.
With this being said, the "bias" seems to lie more or less on different body parts depending on what you are required to play.
Again, trying to play wide, sweepng intervals with fingers alone? Good luck.
Trying to achieve articulation with "arm alone"? Good luck.

In your opinion, what aspects of playing does the "finger school" make easier?
What aspects of playing does the "finger school" make harder?
How about the same questions for the "arm school"?
What is your preferred way when you play the piano?

[p2u_]

Arm school vs Finger school

[Trying to keep straight face]

One cannot talk about an "Arm school" as such. Neither can one talk about a "Finger school" as such. Please define in detail which denomination(s) of which school(s) you want to compare. Thank you.

Paul

[pts1]

The Arm is forever married to The Hand and Fingers.

As in all marriages, its ultimately pointless to try and determine who is "right" and who is "wrong".

What will make the marriage work is getting along and working together effectively.

It is, after all, Valentine's Day!  

[ajspiano]

do what's right so long as it does not impede your playing

Fancy something that impedes your playing AND is "right".

I would only echo pts1, ofcourse where ever there are marriages the parties seem to have trouble working together effectively without a lot of work and consideration for each other, especially when it gets tough.

[p2u_]

As in all marriages, its ultimately pointless to try and determine who is "right" and who is "wrong".

Off-topic, but I thought it would be interesting enough to let you know.

When you translate the English word "marriage" to Russian, you get "brak".
But when you translate "brak" back into English you get:
1) marriage, matrimony, wedlock, match, marriage state, spousal, matrimonial state
2) defects, defect, flaw, spoilage, reject, refuse, discard, waster, wastrel.

It's as if the Universe wants to tell us something by letting you use the word "marriage" in this provocative topic...

Paul

[j_menz]

Off-topic,

Not as much so as you might think. брак is also Жорж Брак, who painted:

[ajspiano]

It's as if the Universe wants to tell us something

I've always suspected the key to piano technique was hidden in russian to english spoken language translations.

[pts1]

I've always suspected the key to piano technique was hidden in russian to english spoken language translations.

Yes!

And this is obviously the explanation as to why Western men want to marry Russian women!

Something might be lost in the translation, but who's gonna care?