Thumb under problems for Arpeggios

[terminal]

I have been working on the Hannon Arpeggio on the triads exercises #41 and I am having a bit of a problem with the tuck under of the right hand from G1 up to C2 (it goes C1 E1 G1 C2.. ).

In particular my thumb doesn't quite reach the C2 which makes it sound broken up, my #3 finger is long enough (or so it seems) but the tuck under stretch is missing the key.

The left hand has no problem with this exercise but I am sure if the arpeggio was a bit different it would encounter the same problem.

Any ideas on movements to get around this?

Thanks in advance.

[willcowskitz]

I would practice it staccato, learn to release finger 3 from G early and move your hand quickly forward to hit the thumb on next C.

There really is no reason to keep 3 on G until 1 touches C, especially in fast arpeggios...

Don't allow 'thumb under' to have a "glue" effect on your other fingers, have them mobile as your hand.


p.s.  Being fast doesn't mean having to hurry, its about teaching your body to execute demanding motion with least possible effort.

[xvimbi]

I have been working on the Hannon Arpeggio on the triads exercises #41 and I am having a bit of a problem with the tuck under of the right hand from G1 up to C2 (it goes C1 E1 G1 C2.. ).

In particular my thumb doesn't quite reach the C2 which makes it sound broken up, my #3 finger is long enough (or so it seems) but the tuck under stretch is missing the key.

In other words, are you trying to do thumb-under" to C2 with your pinkie on G1? If so, this is practicaly impossible, and if you keep doing this, it will lead to injury. Try "thumb-over", i.e. don't move your thumb (perhaps just a little bit), but move your hand as a whole instead. This will give you a little gap, however, the gap will disappear at a certain speed. I think it's a terrific goal to practice this method until the gap disappears, because then you know you have made it. The same with scales played with the "thumb-over" method.

As a side note: any such anatomical problem is best addressed with a knowledgeable teacher. Hanon is particularly notorious, in that one can easily get injured if the exercises are not done correctly. Following the instructions that Hanon gives himself is suicide.

[Kapellmeister27]

question:  would a good way to practice To (that is, moving the whole hand) be to play (right hand ascending) 1and5 together, then 2, then 3, then when moving your hand play 1and54 together again so that this way oyu are assured that your whole hand as moving and not just your thumb?

[terminal]

#3 finger and Thumb are the cross under

Going up in scale from G1 to C2 using #3 on G1 and thumb to C2.

Thanks for the replies folks, I like the stacato method