Help with Haydn Hob.XVI:37

[rtheunissen]

Dear all,

I’ve been working on this Haydn sonata in D major, it’s a very fun piece to play. However, lately I’ve been struggling with the trills in the very beginning (of course they come back a couple of times). It seems that when I raise the tempo (BPM of around 116) my fingers refuse to play the trills. Does anyone have any practice tips?

Kind regards.

[brogers70]

I assume you have figured out how to practice trills in general, the right balance (for you) between forearm rotation and finger action, staying in contact with the keys, relaxing, etc. I've found that if some particular ornament is giving me trouble, it's often because I am tensing up in anticipation of its not going well. To break that habit you can, (1) practice the trill very slowly, making it a measured trill, (2) pause just before you play the trill and relax - obviously this is just a stepping stone to relaxing without the pause (3) be sure to trill the full value and end the trill consciously - this makes sure you don't get a hurried, tense feeling (4) psych yourself out of the tensiion - tell yourself you don't give AF, you're just having fun messing around.

Also, make sure you've picked a fingering for the trill you like - I played those trills as 1,3 trills, but some people may like 2,3 or even 2,4 better.

[rtheunissen]

Thanks! I'll test out your advice. Another quick question, maybe a little more abstract. Do you have any advice for playing this piece (or similar pieces where precise articulation is of importance like it is in Haydn) with cold hands, either getting rid of the cold hands or being able to play the piece with control despite having cold hands? I've been struggling a lot with this. It sometimes even causes me to be practically unable to play, which gets me frustrated, which makes it even less likely I will practice well.

Thanks in advance!

[brogers70]

Thanks! I'll test out your advice. Another quick question, maybe a little more abstract. Do you have any advice for playing this piece (or similar pieces where precise articulation is of importance like it is in Haydn) with cold hands, either getting rid of the cold hands or being able to play the piece with control despite having cold hands? I've been struggling a lot with this. It sometimes even causes me to be practically unable to play, which gets me frustrated, which makes it even less likely I will practice well.

Thanks in advance!

That's not a problem I have, for some reason. I should, too, living in a cold climate. I've heard of people just soaking their hands in warm water for a few minutes before playing. Myabe that would help. I don't know.