Piano Forum

They should feel easy when you play them, but mastering the technique takes a while.

Checklist for rapid ornaments:
* Move your fingers rapidly and have a very clear, intense sensation in your fingertips
* Don't tense any part of your hand when trying to move your fingers (including the thumb all the way up to your wrist - your thumb should be like it's made of soft rubber when not playing)
* Keep the other fingers not playing relaxed
* Don't press down on your fingers with your arm when playing (check if there is any particular finger you want to press down on - or if you want to press down when starting the ornament or ending the ornament - and work on ensuring you simply move the finger instead)
* Your hand needs to be very light and easy
* Don't tense your wrist, elbow or shoulder when playing the ornaments - they should be loose and flexible in all directions
* Practise in such a tempo that you can execute the above mentioned instructions perfectly, and speed will come

You can also experiment with doing it faster every now and then, to try and get a feel for carrying these instructions out when playing rapidly