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New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score
A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more >>

Topic: Small hands big chords  (Read 1448 times)

Offline the green piano man

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Small hands big chords
on: May 01, 2024, 08:28:09 AM
Hello, I have some problem nowadays with the bartok's dance suite. In the first movement there are a lots of big chords, I barely or cannot reach. I have a small hand, two years ago the 8th was a problem,  today I can reach 9th comfortably, and 10th barely. If I have to play a note in the middle, for example, d a f, it is very hard for me, but I dont think its impossiple. Any exercises to loosen up, or make my hands "bigger"?

Offline themeandvariation

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Re: Small hands big chords
Reply #1 on: May 01, 2024, 01:56:42 PM
yes, your hands should feel supple, loose, but with large stretches - the hand fully extended - you may not be able to feel loose, but at least the wrist can remain supple.  (I am unaware of how to make the hand bigger, as you say.)
There are different options for stretches too difficult. You can roll the chord. With some repertoire, romantic and before, this usually doesn't hurt the musicality , of course it depends on the context of the piece.
With Bartok, rolling a chord where he has not indicated a roll, perhaps will not serve the music, but I would have to see the particular spot you are addressing .
Another option is to drop one of the notes, and that would depend on which note is least needed musically, but of course it would have to be the bottom or top note.
Another option is to have the other hand play one of the notes - if it is able.
4'33"
 

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