One hand technique

[BoliverAllmon]

I found out that I may start teaching a kid who only has the use of one hand due to cerebal palsy. I don't know of any one-hand beginner method books out there. Is there any or am I going to need to compose my own? I know that there is alot of one-handed music out there. Enough to become a touring pianist. Nothing to compare the repertoire of the other greats out there but plenty to choose from. I just need a bridge to get to this repertoire. and most LH pieces should work for RH also right?

boliver

[Brian Healey]

In theory, anything you play with one hand is playable with the other, but you should be cautious.  The mechanics of the hands are different (or, rather, they are opposite). Therefore, a piece written for left hand alone, obviously, is written in such a way that it takes advantage of the unique mechanics of that specific hand. To play it in the other will be more difficult in many ways, and will need to be adapted.


Peace,
Bri

[thierry13]

I don't think you can really learn to someone who has only the use of hands and is a beginner. All the pieces I know that are for left-hand only are far too hard for a beginner. And learning to play piano without any pieces is quite boring and the kid will get bored of playing.

[BoliverAllmon]

that is why you compose. no excuses for not playing the piano.

boliver

[thierry13]

Well you should learn him scales and all what you would teach to someone who has the use of their 2 hands, except your student will do it with one hand. If you like Hanon like you said you can give him that, and say him to play only the right hand. Anyway, in scales and Hanon, both hands do the same thing, but with an octave of difference. You could do that.

[BoliverAllmon]

Well you should learn him scales and all what you would teach to someone who has the use of their 2 hands, except your student will do it with one hand. If you like Hanon like you said you can give him that, and say him to play only the right hand. Anyway, in scales and Hanon, both hands do the same thing, but with an octave of difference. You could do that.

Hanon is ok, but pieces are better.

[Brian Healey]

Have you thought of exploring pieces outside of the piano repertoire? For a one-handed pianist, I would think that pieces for solo violin or cello would be great. thierry13 makes a good point in that most one-hand piano repertoire is pretty advanced for a beginner. Although "Solfegietto" is not bad, now that I think about it. Anyway, try some violin music and see how that works.

Peace,
Bri

[goose]

Now that strikes me as a brilliant idea. Why limit yourself to the piano repertoire?

It's curious, though. From what I know, what repetoire there is tends to be written for left-handed pianists. Yet I knew a fantastic musician called John Railton, who has only his right arm. He adapted incredibly complex things for himself for concert performance.

Anyway, I just Googled him and it turns out he's playing regularly with another pianist with a programme called "Three Hands at One Piano". So maybe there's a way of adapting duets, or simply playing regular pieces side-by-side but dividing the parts. Just like hands separate practice, really...