An etude or sonata for developing my left hand please!

[ramy1989]

Hi guys:

I am an amateur piano player. I would say I am somehow in the intermediate level. I play Beethoven's sonata op 49 no 2, the first movement, Beethoven's sonata op 10 no 2, first movement, Bach prelude no 2, Debussy's clair de lune, and Beethoven's sonata op 14 no 1, the third movement. I have noticed though that my left hand is much weaker than my right hand, and I was wondering if there is a piece like a Beethoven sonata or an etude by chopin or Rachmaninoff (one of the easier ones) that would improve my left hand, I am looking for an increase in my left's hand speed. Please do not recommend me Hannon exercises as those I have tried and they don't help me for some odd reason. Any ideas I would highly appreciate

[mjames]

Tip 1: Baroque music. Such as Scarlatti, Bach (WTC, partitas, inventions).
Tip 2: If you like Chopin, this will be a good work-out...

Scriabin prelude and nocturne for the left, his etudes, preludes

Or play one of Chopin's late mazurkas. Don't underestimate them just because they're short.

*OP. 50 no. 3*

[dogperson]

My teacher recommends Chopin Etude Op 10 no 12 ("Revolutionary")

[debussychopin]

Rach musicaux moments 4

[vaniii]

Czerny Op 718, school for the Left-hand.

Play though them cover to cover slowly, when you gain confidence your dexterity and tempo will increase.  The point is not to make music, but work on your tool (i.e. your hand and technique).

Your left hand is not 'weak' or lacking strength, it is likely that the synapses are not fully formed resulting in decreased co-ordination.

The only way this will improve is by using it in a variety of applications.

There is no quick fix for this; it will take time to develop.

If you play one piece with the aim of learning a technique, the likely hood is it will not be transferable.  If you make your aim to increase dexterity, you would then apply that technique to a variety of pieces, thus a transferable skill.

In analogical terms; you can memories your times tables (3,6,9,12,15 etc.), or you can learn how to multiply and apply it to your need.

[minhogang]

Liszt etude 10
This etude is good for strength and flexibility of the thumb, and stretching of fingers. This combined with chopin op 10 no. 1 and your reach will improve.

Also basically every Bach work will help you (fugues and toccatas mostly)

[visitor]

*sigh there are sooooo many ways to go at this, but i'll start with (have to, as i'm hurt my guy tony didn't get any love on this yet)

[visitor]

Stravinsky op 1, first one is jiggy and has a great interplay/swapping of the parts but that cool sextuplet fig that dominates the lh is super cool. short piece.

[visitor]

a bunch of newer stuff can fit the bill too, Jenova from ff7pc comes to mind. this girl's idea to play from the ipad is smart given how fast and clean it makes 'page turns'

[ramy1989]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

[j_tour]

Blues for the Left Hand is the next jazz tune I'm going to transcribe -- probably won't get around to it, but if you're looking for something different or a really light exercise (it wouldn't be hard to transcribe, even by ear alone, but with the video there's no difficulty in writing it out, just a few hours or less).

Beyond that, I second everyone who said Bach, and I'm still not even close to getting Chopin Prelude in G LH as smooth as Argerich.

ETA oh, I just remembered -- if you like diminished chords, Brahms's Op. 118/6 Intermezzo has plenty of that in LH.  It's good music too -- haven't played it in twenty-five years, but it's a nice piece to have in your book.