Advices for how to play pianissimo

[mussels_with_nutella]

Hello

I am trying to play pianissimo with the left hand and "normally" with the right hand, but it is impossible to me, I never manage to play it pianissimo, any note. I think it is possible in my piano, because from time to time some note sounds very weak (pianissimo), but i don't know how to turn this seldomness into always.

Any tip?

I have read in yahoo answers that the trick is to keep your hand with strength and a bit more above the keys than normally. I don't want to vice my technique (more than what it is jajaja).

[faulty_damper]

It may a problem with the piano.  Ask the piano technician about it.  If he says it's fine, then the problem is a pianist one.

[chopinlover01]

I find that with slow melodies, playing purely from the literal tips of the fingers (a few millimeters under the nail) is a good way to ensure the "nail joint" doesn't collapse. To clarify, on any given finger, there are two joints after each knuckle. The second one, near the tip of the finger, must not collapse for any reason if you wish to play truely softly.
Also, Pianissimo does not always mean a decibel level, if in a melody. For instance, if you have a melody and accompaniment, such as the Mozart d minor fantasy, you must always keep the melody louder than the accompaniment, otherwise the melody is indiscernible over the accompaniment. In the Mozart, the beginning theme in d minor could have the melody at mF. Try to sing it; a very good soprano once told me that she would always sing to the person at the back of the auditorium.

[pianoplunker]

Hello

I am trying to play pianissimo with the left hand and "normally" with the right hand, but it is impossible to me, I never manage to play it pianissimo, any note. I think it is possible in my piano, because from time to time some note sounds very weak (pianissimo), but i don't know how to turn this seldomness into always.

Any tip?

I have read in yahoo answers that the trick is to keep your hand with strength and a bit more above the keys than normally. I don't want to vice my technique (more than what it is jajaja).

I dont know about any Yahoo tricks but what I did to accomplish one hand softer than the other was to practice scales that way. First do hands separate. with your left hand practice very loud and staccatto. Then immediately practice very soft and legato. Then loud and legato , soft and staccatto. Same thing for right hand. This helps to understand how to control each hand. For me it was almost instant progress .   

[pianoplunker]

I find that with slow melodies, playing purely from the literal tips of the fingers (a few millimeters under the nail) is a good way to ensure the "nail joint" doesn't collapse. To clarify, on any given finger, there are two joints after each knuckle. The second one, near the tip of the finger, must not collapse for any reason if you wish to play truely softly.
Also, Pianissimo does not always mean a decibel level, if in a melody. For instance, if you have a melody and accompaniment, such as the Mozart d minor fantasy, you must always keep the melody louder than the accompaniment, otherwise the melody is indiscernible over the accompaniment. In the Mozart, the beginning theme in d minor could have the melody at mF. Try to sing it; a very good soprano once told me that she would always sing to the person at the back of the auditorium.

Very good points here. It all requires control. I have heard the same thing about singing or playing to the back of the auditorium. It is also called projecting.

[mussels_with_nutella]

Many many thanks for your answers!!

I will try to learn it following the strategy of pianoplunker (staccato-loud, then legato-soft, staccato-loud...) and trying to stick to the suggestions of chopinlover Let's see tomorrow if I improve something!!!

[quantum]

Singers and wind players will resonate with this: playing softer requires more support.  On piano, what that means is a well supported transfer of energy from torso through to finger tip.  Floppy joints will lead to inconsistent and difficult to control pianissimo. 

Practice playing fortissimo, then gradually decrease volume without letting go of the support.  Remember it is support you want, not unnecessary tension and inflexibility. 

Also remember pianissimo is a relative term.  That means everything you do contributes to the overall sound.  If your melody is supposed to be pp but your accompaniment is playing mf (unintentionally), the overall effect will sound unbalanced and not pp. 

[barry1963]

great advice,thanks