Breaking the habit of sliding from a black key

[sondheimfan]

Hello everyone -

     First post here - I have been playing theater and jazz music for most of my life, and I have decided to come back to a conservatory where I am being given a lot of classical repertoire which is very new to me.

     One piece I am working on this semester is Haydn Piano Sonata, HOB 23 - and in the Presto there is a descending D Aeolian scale, and I find then when I am going at quicker tempos, I am reverting to sliding my 3 finger from the B-Flat to the A. The tone doesn't bother me as it still sounds even, however I then end up a finger short when I get to the bottom of the line.

     I am able to get it at the slower tempo - is this just a matter or continuing slow practice on this until it becomes second nature, or is there something I should be doing at the quicker speeds?

     I have my first lesson of the semester tomorrow, so I will also ask my instructor as well, but I feel that different ideas will only give me more things to try.

Thanks

[faulty_damper]

It's just a habit, and not a bad one at that, but you'll need to learn a new fingering.  This should be easily learned in a couple of days so it's automatic.  And yes, slow practice is the best way to work out coordination but you'll have to practice it at speed with the same fingering as well. Otherwise, you'll revert to the old fingering.

[sondheimfan]

Thanks faulty_damper - It is actually getting more comfortable just from continuing to work up and breaking the passage down to just focus on the movements of the fingers instead of how it fits into the phrase - sometimes I need to break it down like that. Now to bring some emotion back into it!

[quantum]

Sliding is actually a useful skill in classical music as well.  It just may not be the best choice for the particular passage, as you have discovered.  Focus your concentration when playing the passage so you utilize your chosen fingering, as opposed to reverting to muscle memory. 

If this is happening only at faster speeds, you may wish to isolate a few notes in the problem area and play them at speed.  Eg: Take the grouping of four or so notes under the hand and play them quickly.