What am I supposed to do?
Full Version: Fast Passages=tense Fingers
Whenever I'm playing a piece with semiquaver passages, my fingers always seem to tense up and I can't play them...
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
Apparantly I'm too tense when I play..especially when I'm unsure on something as well.
Perhaps play the passage really slowly and try to relax...then gradually speed it up once you are relaxed at a certain speed.
My waffle make sense?
Perhaps play the passage really slowly and try to relax...then gradually speed it up once you are relaxed at a certain speed.
My waffle make sense?
theres no short n fast way round it really. You just have to play it very slowly lots of times. Like in a typical practice session, get a metronome and start at maybe just under half speed, and when you play 5 perfect repertitions, for example, move the metronome up a tiny tiny amount!
Not just your fingers, but your writs, forearms, upper arms, shoulders and brain too.
You have to really want to conquer this problem and the solution lies purely with you.
Play one octave of the scale of B with your right hand (B is the best because your long fingers occupy black notes).
However slowly of quickly you play this, fingers not actually involved in playing notes will lie naturally on the keys if they are relaxed. The only thing that will cause them to rise in tension in the finger muscle.
As you go up and down the scale, mentally tune in to the muscles in your wrist, forearm, upper arm and shoulders. Allow them to relax.
Once you have learned how it feels to play without unnecessary tension, you can apply this to the rest of your playing.
Dead easy to describe. Tough as old ships' biscuits to carry out. Good luck.
Steve
You have to really want to conquer this problem and the solution lies purely with you.
Play one octave of the scale of B with your right hand (B is the best because your long fingers occupy black notes).
However slowly of quickly you play this, fingers not actually involved in playing notes will lie naturally on the keys if they are relaxed. The only thing that will cause them to rise in tension in the finger muscle.
As you go up and down the scale, mentally tune in to the muscles in your wrist, forearm, upper arm and shoulders. Allow them to relax.
Once you have learned how it feels to play without unnecessary tension, you can apply this to the rest of your playing.
Dead easy to describe. Tough as old ships' biscuits to carry out. Good luck.
Steve
oooh! Thanks for the advice Steve! I could use it too...my teacher always tells me that i when i play scales my little finger stiffens and sticks up in the air... 
You've tasted old ships' biscuits, have you?! 
(Mind you there are probably some at the back of my cupboards fitting that description!!)
(Mind you there are probably some at the back of my cupboards fitting that description!!)
QUOTE(SteveHopwood @ Nov 4 2005, 12:25 AM)
Not just your fingers, but your writs, forearms, upper arms, shoulders and brain too.
You have to really want to conquer this problem and the solution lies purely with you.
Play one octave of the scale of B with your right hand (B is the best because your long fingers occupy black notes).
However slowly of quickly you play this, fingers not actually involved in playing notes will lie naturally on the keys if they are relaxed. The only thing that will cause them to rise in tension in the finger muscle.
As you go up and down the scale, mentally tune in to the muscles in your wrist, forearm, upper arm and shoulders. Allow them to relax.
Once you have learned how it feels to play without unnecessary tension, you can apply this to the rest of your playing.
Dead easy to describe. Tough as old ships' biscuits to carry out. Good luck.
Steve
You have to really want to conquer this problem and the solution lies purely with you.
Play one octave of the scale of B with your right hand (B is the best because your long fingers occupy black notes).
However slowly of quickly you play this, fingers not actually involved in playing notes will lie naturally on the keys if they are relaxed. The only thing that will cause them to rise in tension in the finger muscle.
As you go up and down the scale, mentally tune in to the muscles in your wrist, forearm, upper arm and shoulders. Allow them to relax.
Once you have learned how it feels to play without unnecessary tension, you can apply this to the rest of your playing.
Dead easy to describe. Tough as old ships' biscuits to carry out. Good luck.
Steve
Brilliantly put! What an example to us all.
QUOTE(chocolatedog @ Nov 4 2005, 09:18 AM)
You've tasted old ships' biscuits, have you?! (Mind you there are probably some at the back of my cupboards fitting that description!!)
(Mind you there are probably some at the back of my cupboards fitting that description!!)Baked a few in the past. The only thing they lacked were the weevils
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