Left hand of Chopin Minute Waltz

[nadapez]

I want some opinions about different approaches to play left hand chords in Chopin's Minute Waltz Op. 64 Nr. 1. It goes like 270 bpm

I think the common way is to use the movement of the wrist but I realized that it is also possible to use the force of the fingers (like grapping the keys) and play with the fingers always in contact with the keys. Specially for high velocities I think this approach is more suitable and allows to play non staccatto easily. (although it needs strong fingers).

Also this approach would develop strength and control of the fingers.

I would like to have some opinions and experiences about this.

Thank you!

[debussychopin]

Your inquiry to this "left hand technique" kind of tells me that you are probably forgoing solidifying proper playing of the left hand at a slow tempo. If you get it down the accuracy of the notes and articulation of the left hand at slow tempo, once you go up to a quicker tempo your hand will just naturally know what to do. There isn't a reason to try to figure out artificially, a device for proper technique at fast tempos.

[dw4rn]

If you get it down the accuracy of the notes and articulation of the left hand at slow tempo, once you go up to a quicker tempo your hand will just naturally know what to do.

I agree about the importance of slow practice, but not the part about your hand "just naturally knowing". If that was the case, everybody having the patience to play slowly enough to get the notes and articulation right would become a virtouso. I think it's certainly possible to play slowly and correctly with a technique that won't work at a faster speed. And I think nadapez does very well to consider his or her technique, questioning what will or will not work in the desired tempo.

That being said, I don't think that using the 'force of the fingers' will get you anywhere in this particular case. A feeling of 'grapping the keys' might help playing the chords crisply and accurately, but keeping the fingers always in contact with the keys I think will only make things much more difficult, causing fatigue and tension. These left hand chords isn't 'high velocity' in that sense. And I don't know why you would strive to play them 'non staccato'?