Finger Stigmatisms??

[amy]

Hey guys... im going in for my audition in 2 weeks for university of toronto... for one of my pieces.. the sonata in g major by mozart.. is quite simple to play!..but somehow.. there's certain bars that i cant quite play (up to speed that is) and i think it's an actual stigmatism..that sometimes my fingers cant play a certain way in the fashion of the arranged-notes and melody... and even if i play slowly.. it stilll wont come up to speed.. any suggestions?
thank you

[rachfan]

Hi amy,

In all my years I've never heard of a stigmatism of the fingers!  I think its probably another problem.  Here are a couple of suggestions.  

First, make sure you are using the most sensible fingering up to tempo.  You see, we sometimes find that a fingering that is fabulous in slow practice is completely unrealisitc at the faster tempo.  So experiement with that.  Be sure that your fingering is anticipatory, preparing the hand to be in proper position and ready without bumps or jumps to play that difficult spot.  

Secondly, if the fingering makes all the sense in the world, look instead at the choreography of the hand.  As you attempt to play that troublesome section look away from the music and down at what your hands are doing.  See if you can diagnose a problem there by studying the motion a few times in succession.  Sometimes you can work wonders in a place like that by either raising or lowering the wrist, for example, or by slightly repositioning the hand closer to the black keys to assist the fingers in reaching those notes more easily.  

Good luck!

[amp]

That's the classical period piece I played for my audition. Yes, it looks easy, but if you play it well, it's very impressive because all of the dramatic changes, in dynamics and notes etc., even in the first page. Are you playing the whole Sonata or just the first movement?

Rach, as always, gives excellent advice. Also as painful as it is, try it slow with the metronome, like really slow (60). Try just a measure at a time til you get it right. Do you practice finger excersizes? Those  will fix any technical problems you may have. I had particular trouble with measures 43 and 44. The professor that heard me play says in measures like that it is helpful to keep your wrists high, then the fingers like "dance" below. Try it.

Good luck...Try not to get yourself too nervous :-)

[amee]

Hey guys,
What is finger stigmatisms?  I've never heard of it before.

[amy]

hey guys.. thank you for replying to my questions!... i guess im stubborn when it comes to working out my fingering and playing slow etc.etc.. its just that i always think theres not enough time... count down 13 days.. till audition.. anyways..

to answer your question:  im playing the 1st movement only of the sonata in g major.  i will try bar 43 and 44 like you said.. thank you... its just that i can't really play the last few quick bars before the final ending of the last page... im so frustrated...
   thank you!

[amp]

Have you tryed the hands separatly? Can you try it so that the left hand just goes on it's own, it does the same thing, and concentrate on just the right hand?

Try not to get too worked up, try not thinking about it and see how far you get through it. I bet about half way down the page you begin to worry about the measure you can't play well. :-) That will do it everytime, if you are nervous about making a mistake, most likely you'll make it. It's a really fun piece to play once you get over the hurdles.

Are you playing any other pieces? Which ones?

[amee]

amp, I totally agree with what you said.  When you worry about a measure, you tense up automatically beforehand and everything comes out crazy.  So just relax, and play naturally, and try not to think about those icky measures too much while playing

[amy]

Hi amp...  thank you for the suggestions.. yes.. i agree.. i do tense up...and that happens for almost every 6 bars!!! hahaha... everything in that song is an  obstacle for me... i feel like such a poor pianist...awful technique etc..    anyways.. my other songs are...
- prelude+fugue 14 book 1
- op.28 n.15 beethoven
- op.38 n.6 mendelssohn
- 2st arabesque by debussy..

and yours? which songs did u play?
-thanks

[amp]

Judging from the other pieces you are playing, it must be something funny in the Mozart piece that gives you trouble. It's like trying to mix oil and water. It just doesn't work. The sections are so different, so for that reason I consider it to be difficult. Try to be convincing with your other pieces!

I played Chopin's Nocturne in E flat, and Bach's Sinfonia No. 1.