HELP WITH la leggierezza (PLEASE)

[flashyfingers]

HELP!!

I have been seeing so much improvement and can really give this piece a whirl sometimes. EXCEPT, I get stuck near the end. My hand starts tensing up, and it is hard to play with a tight hand. If I stop, it relaxes, (and I'm fine the first 3/4ths of the time, I actually enjoy myself) and then right after the tremolo in the right hand. And then the 32nd notes. That's really when it starts. I have not had this happen to me in a long time…I am worried.

I think I am still having trouble using enough weight of my hand and I am trying to force those thirds.

Any suggestions?



I would like to add that I do stop when I feel this tightness.


Should I take breaks from this piece? Like, practice it only when I am really feeling the hair grow on my chest?

[nyiregyhazi]

I'm anticipating some remarkably generic advice about going slow and relaxing, that you'll have heard before and which will probably make little to no difference. If you want something useful, post a video so we can see how you move.

Your question is essentially how do I play the piano. There's no specific magical advice for this piece alone. Show us where you are now and people will be able to see what is currently not working.

[flashyfingers]

Another problem is that I can more easily play through the other sections if the piano action is light and fast. Does that mean that I am not strong enough to play on my piano? I mean, are my arms not heavy enough?

[dima_76557]

@ flashyfingers

Play every written note in any given passage twice with a very light touch, feeling the resistance of the key. The tempo will be slow, of course, but that doesn't matter. Do that systematically for a couple of days or for a week or so, and do not even "try if it works". It works, trust me. Do not think about fingers, arm weight and other distracting factors. Simply "weigh" the keys at at tempo that is comfortable for you. The repetition of each note is to check that you didn't play the first note accidentally.

[pover]

dima that seems like an interesting method. On what kind of passages do you suggest I use this or when I encounter which types of problems? (Feeling tense, trying to speed up, playing lightly etc... which do you think this addresses?)

[mjames]

pfft looks like easy piece...

[dima_76557]

dima that seems like an interesting method. On what kind of passages do you suggest I use this or when I encounter which types of problems? (Feeling tense, trying to speed up, playing lightly etc... which do you think this addresses?)

ANY passage that gives you the impression it is "difficult". They all become a piece of cake in this way. The only thing that is required is a bit of patience for a couple of days. After you've done this, it is best to try the passage as written not as fast as possible right away. Start at a convenient tempo. You'll see that the foundation for speed is already there, and then you can speed up. Then you should alternate between this approach and what you want ultimately.

[flashyfingers]

pfft looks like easy piece...

easy to memorize, pretty difficult to play with lightness of touch and soft very soft dynamics.

@Dima

I have done this with a mute, and I revert to playing each note evenly and slowly when I feel I did not accomplish proper retention of a passage in my muscle memory.(I have also noticed that in good recordings, there is a good balance between sound of strings and sound of hammer/very delicate percussive sound).

But I still noticed that this is easier to play on a fast action with a light counterweight, like a yamaha upright. Why is this?

I actually had practiced slowly and evenly for a few days and saw improvement once I tried playing through the piece much later.

Do you think doing this again (slow practice) and again would help me accomplish my goals, still?
I mean that I have already done this and seen results. Will I continue seeing results if I keep practicing in this way every time I find my technique still lacks something?

Descending chromatic thirds are fine, but ascending is killing me here and there!!!

[mjames]

I was joking...

I don't think it's easy to memorize... ;(

[dima_76557]

I have done this with a mute, and I revert to playing each note evenly and slowly when I feel I did not accomplish proper retention of a passage in my muscle memory.

Do you mean exactly as I instructed or did you interpret my post merely as "practise slowly"? Essential is "feeling the resistance of the key" and playing every note twice (repetition).

[flashyfingers]

Do you mean exactly as I instructed or did you interpret my post merely as "practise slowly"? Essential is "feeling the resistance of the key" and playing every note twice (repetition).

you mean repeat each note twice, like literally?

I will try that.

[dima_76557]

you mean repeat each note twice, like literally?

Like literally.

[flashyfingers]

Like literally.

teehee


That is a really good idea, though. I can already imagine that doing so will keep me from rushing through the exercise portion of practicing this piece, because it is probably more difficult than it seems.

Do you think adding more motion would be beneficial? As in, to produce a bigger, more complex sound/tone?

(Did I just sound rhetorical?)

[dima_76557]

Do you think adding more motion would be beneficial? As in, to produce a bigger, more complex sound/tone?

You will have to experiment to find out. I do it with my default movement from the knuckle of the hand, but it could be beneficial to "up" and "down" notes a la Grindea (look up on YouTube).

[nyiregyhazi]

I like the note repetition method, but I must say that it's very easy to get it wrong. My primary recommendation is to overhold the preceding note when doing it and add taubman style rotation. Otherwise the constant disconnections between arm and piano can cause stiffness. When I used this method a few years ago, this became a big problem. When your preceding finger is still connecting your arm between the two repetitions, you are less likely to end up tightening muscles. I'd start by actually just holding one note while playing another finger staccato. You'll find out how secure (or not) that previous finger really was. From there, you can build to going through with each note twice.

Rotation on it's own can encourage inadequate finger movement, but when you play each note twice during rotation, you're more likely to individuate the finger properly. But the rotation helps that finger movement to happen freely and healthily.

[flashyfingers]

thanks, y'all!! I will let you know how it goes. I will try it out with a few of the passages, this week. I have a feeling I am going to have to be really patient, though. This might take a few more weeks.

[flashyfingers]

Hey guys!

Umm…so I practice with a mute on my upright. I also recently changed the felt that drapes over the hammers, and replaced it with a very thin material, it mutes considerably less but still stops the hammers in some way. I am never able to play as fast as I can without the mute, or on any other piano. Is the mute for practice only, and no sense in even practicing fast with the mute on?

Does anyone here play fast and without struggle, on physically muted strings?

That made little sense. I meant that the new mute mutes less and stops the hammers less, but still stops the hammers considerably.

[dima_76557]

@ flashyfingers

I have nothing to prove what I think, but I suspect you may be ruining your technique by playing fast with a mute felt on because the timing is quite different. You'd be better off practising on a silent keyboard (no auditory feedback at all) but without changing the timing of your keystroke. Just saying.

[flashyfingers]

@ flashyfingers

I have nothing to prove what I think, but I suspect you may be ruining your technique by playing fast with a mute felt on because the timing is quite different. You'd be better off practising on a silent keyboard (no auditory feedback at all) but without changing the timing of your keystroke. Just saying.

I wanted to hear that! Thank you!

And it makes sense, it changes the key stroke time, MOST DEF!!

[flashyfingers]

I am going to practice it silently on a keyboard tomorrow, and have an awesome practice!!! yippie!