Help with Alberti bass in Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2

[marijn1999]

Hi guys,

So today I decided to start learning the first movement of Beethoven's 2nd Piano Concerto. My goal is to learn all the three movements because I have a youth orchestra willing to perform it two times after the summer with me. However, I already encountered problems on the first day (not so much of a surprise btw).

After the orchestra has made it's long tutti exposition the piano comes in at bar 90 or so and it plays a 12 bar introduction after which the orchestra leads it back to the main theme. That's where the piano starts playing a for a long, difficult while with a lot of alberti bass work in the left hand.

 I find the skips for the bass notes very awkward and my hand becomes very crampy and even goes to sleep after practicing it for a while. Having pinky fingers on the black notes (which is pretty much unavoidable) feels very bad and cramps up my hand (if that's a word)  .

Can you guys give me some help? Thanks in advance.

BW,
Marijn

[chopinlover01]

My trick would be to use very slight wrist rotation. Don't try to operate each finger itself, rather, rotate towards your thumb and 4th finger.

[xdjuicebox]

My trick would be to use very slight wrist rotation. Don't try to operate each finger itself, rather, rotate towards your thumb and 4th finger.

I like to throw my entire hand for that matter, but that might be overkill. Yes, rotation is super important in Alberti bass!

This helped me a lot

[louispodesta]

Hi guys,

So today I decided to start learning the first movement of Beethoven's 2nd Piano Concerto. My goal is to learn all the three movements because I have a youth orchestra willing to perform it two times after the summer with me. However, I already encountered problems on the first day (not so much of a surprise btw).

After the orchestra has made it's long tutti exposition the piano comes in at bar 90 or so and it plays a 12 bar introduction after which the orchestra leads it back to the main theme. That's where the piano starts playing a for a long, difficult while with a lot of alberti bass work in the left hand.

 I find the skips for the bass notes very awkward and my hand becomes very crampy and even goes to sleep after practicing it for a while. Having pinky fingers on the black notes (which is pretty much unavoidable) feels very bad and cramps up my hand (if that's a word)  .

Can you guys give me some help? Thanks in advance.

BW,
Marijn

I have weighed in on this subject many time before, so if you want to contact me by PM, I would be glad to help you.  It is not a difficult problem to solve, however, it does involve a philosophy regarding an overall approach to key attack.

Thanks for having the fortitude to ask.