Romantic Period Piano Techniques

[Will Millar]

Hello Everyone

    As you may or may not remember, I started a topic a while ago titled ' What is the Musical term for...?"

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5551.msg53730.html#msg53730

I am really struggling with this concept and cannot do it without hurting my wrists, any ideas how to improve/or actually do it? I can physically do it, but it sounds all jaulty and slow and ...wrong!

Nb. Any Rachmaninov fans would know what this is

https://muslib.mmv.ru/piano/rahm_rhaps.3.pdf - Page 28 - First 8 bars

Many Thanks

Will

[Will Millar]

I changed the name to something that isn't going to scare people off.


Please reply! I don't bite!

Thanks

Will

[TheHammer]

[Edit]
Hmmmm...
Okay, this technique is really wide spread throughout the repertoire, but it is not easy, so don't be disappointed!
First of all, I suggest you forget the whole notion that you "cannot play it". They are just notes, intense and coordinated practicing will lead to succes.
Some tips:
First practice this alternating notes just with one finger in each hand! I suggest you start with both thumbs so you play just a c in the left and another c in the right hand. Rhythm is the important thing here. Practice till you really can pull it off fast (start using other fingers as well, but do not change fingers when you started one practice, so do not switch between the fingers when playing!).
Practice with the same note in both hands could also help, so that you are just repeating the same note with alternating hands (remember: start slow, go up to speed, use different rhythm patterns: 8th notes, triplets, 16th, etc).
Next step would be to play a melody or a scale (best would be the melody notes of your piece) in that way (in your example in would go e-a, e-a, c#-f# and so on).
Then I would do the same with octaves in both hands (start with playing just the same note with the thumb plus the octaves with the fifth fingers, than two dfferent notes, and then go on as above).
Now, if you can do THAT, chors should be no problem. Of course you could also play the inner thirds alone (without the outer octaves in each hands) and so on. Just experiment with it, find your own exercises! And of course, once you have accomplished the movement, practice the actual chords very slowly, so you can play them with eyes shut! That will help I think...
If have not been clear enough or misunderstood your problem, please say so...

Best luck

PS. I might suggest you post the link to your piece in this thread because many readers may just be too lazy to follow your first link?

[thierry13]

For the wrist pain, try to find a really short rest time, and making an up and down movement with the wrist... I don't really know how to explain it, but move your wrist, never keep it in the same position all along, it's supposed to work