Coordination between hands

[oullman7130]

I'm playing the Brahms Rhapsody in B minor (Op. 79, no. 1) and am having trouble with the scale runs (these are really similar to the runs at the end of the first chopin ballade). Really, the problem has to do with coordination; I can't seem to get the hands to be together at that fast of a tempo.
Does anybody recommend any practice methods or exercises?

[michael_c]

An old, tried-and-tested method is practising different rhythms. Start with dotted rhythms - long, short, long, short. Then grouped in threes - long, short, short, long, short, short. Then in fours, fives, etc. Use the long note to consciously relax, then make sure that the group of short notes is very exactly played.

Decide how you finally want to group the notes in your head. The end result should sound like one great gesture, without any accents along the way, but it's good if you have an inner grouping in your mind.

You can also work on the weaker hand alone, making sure that the arm weight is coming behind each note and thus that the scale is as even as possible. Then add the stringer hand, but let the weaker hand be the leader.

[vassoni123]

I have played that piece too,nailed those scales,but i rmember practicing them for hours,first,try with the above mentioned,play hands separate,when you master every hand,start practicing them both slowly,you can also try to start slow and gradually increase the speed  of the scale while you are reaching the highest note,the F and F sharp fand you will  also want to check the finger positions, i remember that the finger positions  in my score was perfect,but the part with scales was really inpractical,so you may want to try to adjust your finger positions,just in case,but mostly you will play them as same as you play the basic F major scale,i think that's the first one,but i can't remeber the second scale,i think that it was an F sharp major,someone correct me if i'm wrong...

[kawai_cs]

Michael_c - excellent advice, as always
I normally practice different rhythms too, because it helps me acquire speed. The idea of grouping the notes in the head sounds good too.

[perfect_pitch]

One other way I like to use with very quick scalic passages, is this. You have 2 scales as far as I heard in the piece - F Major and F# Major... Here's what I do.

Play in lumps stopping on the thumb, like this (F Major)
F         G A Bb C        D E F         G A Bb C        D E F etc...
allowing the hand to work in small sections playing the notes rapidly. Same can be done for F# Major:
F# G# A# B        C# D# E#      F# G# A# B        C# D# E# etc...

THEN... try to join them by going over the thumb:
F G A Bb C D          E F G           A Bb C D etc...
trying to force yourself to get the fingers over the thumb quickly:
F# G# A# B C#          D# E# F#          G# A# B C# etc...

I used it when learning the Brahms Piano Concerto No 1, where you have two quick scalic passages ending with big chunky chords.