How to play octaves well with tiny hands?

[wankimx3]

I have tiny hands since birth. I'm already 18, coming to 19 this August yet I have very small hands. It must be related to my short height of 150 cm. I always wanted to learn songs and pieces that I love but they are always very harsh to my hands because of the octaves Some even require playing ninths!!

However, my hands are small and weak, and despite learning piano for 11-12 years already, my piano technique is limited to Grade 5/6, even though I'm now a professional student studying in music college. It makes me feel a bit hopeless and not confident, and I often procrastinate to learn any new pieces/songs because of this. I do practice a lot of scales especially octave scales though, to improve my technical skills. However, I practiced the octave scales till the point that my hands feel tired, sore and tensed out because of prolonged stretching.

Do you guys have any suggestions on the octave problem and improve my technical skills? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.

[winsto7]

My old piano teacher is a world class piano teacher and has played for many people, famous and not, alike and she has extremely small hands. One thing she does is just not play octaves and you wouldn't even know it. It probably sucks to not be able to do octaves, but each of us has our limits and I think as long as you make the piece unique to you, it doesn't really matter.

[hmoll53]

I don't know if you have tried this, but if granted your hands can probably reach an 8th/Octave, then you can play octaves well. Many pianists had small hands, Hofmann, Ashkenazy, Myra Hess and Scriabin are just some examples. A fingering is having your thumb as always 1, but the higher note in the octave alternate between 4 and 5s. This provides much more speed and agility as your hands do not tense up as easily just 1-5 all the way. Also, relax your shoulders if possible, and loosen your arms where only the tip of your fingers are applying force, everything else is light and weightless. It takes long time to get to this point but it works if you do it right.
Hope this helps 

[lelle]

However, I practiced the octave scales till the point that my hands feel tired, sore and tensed out because of prolonged stretching.

I think you need to be careful with this! If you feel tired, sore and tense you might be damaging your hands. Is your maximum reach and octave or can you reach more?

[leigh anne]

I don't know if you have tried this, but if granted your hands can probably reach an 8th/Octave, then you can play octaves well. Many pianists had small hands, Hofmann, Ashkenazy, Myra Hess and Scriabin are just some examples. A fingering is having your thumb as always 1, but the higher note in the octave alternate between 4 and 5s. This provides much more speed and agility as your hands do not tense up as easily just 1-5 all the way. Also, relax your shoulders if possible, and loosen your arms where only the tip of your fingers are applying force, everything else is light and weightless. It takes long time to get to this point but it works if you do it right.
Hope this helps 

[wankimx3]

I think you need to be careful with this! If you feel tired, sore and tense you might be damaging your hands. Is your maximum reach and octave or can you reach more?

Well I can reach an octave, but I can't play fast...I tried to reach a 9th but only if it's broken up.