Hi

I am at grade 4/5 standard on piano and when i play my wrist always drops and I can never seem to remember to keep a good hand position, i think this is because ive practised too long in the wrong way. Does anyone have any tips on how to improve hand position as I really need it for one of my grade 4 pieces(Watchmans Song) it is virtuarlly impossible to play with flat fingers!!!!

Thanx

Nat

There's been a couple of posts on this.

Play with a penny on the back of your hand. Imagine there's a mouse under your hand, and you'll kill it if your hand goes down.

Lastly (and everyone will denounce this but it worked for me)... drop your piano stool down to far below where it hsould be, practise for a while like this, and when you rise the stool back to the right place, your hand will rise up to the right shape.

Hand position is something that you should always look out for at the beginning, but seriously, don't be too disheartened if it doesn't seem to be perfect to begin with. As you progress further, you will find that your hand position will begin to naturally develop to the 'correct' postion. Your general musicianship will make sure of this as you start to try and produce the sounds that you want to hear. Listen to recordings of professional piansists as much as you can and enjoy what you are are hearing....eventually you will find that you cannot help but use the correct position!!

This is nothing to do with wrist position but did you know that piece was for Grade 4 piano in 1936?!?!?!

Do you mean watchman's song was a grade 4 piano piece in 1936?!

I hope you went teaching it in 1936, Cecilia - surely you require a rest from piano pedagogy if that has been the case!

I don't know this can help you or not.My advise is try to call someone to sit beside you while you are playing.Call him or her to check your wrist while you are playing.Remember them to remind and remind you as many time as possible if you do the mistake so you can get out of this trouble.Hope it helps.

QUOTE (Natalie @ Mar 5 2004, 08:30 PM)

Hi I am at grade 4/5 standard on piano and when i play my wrist always drops and I can never seem to remember to keep a good hand position, i think this is because ive practised too long in the wrong way. Does anyone have any tips on how to improve hand position as I really need it for one of my grade 4 pieces(Watchmans Song) it is virtuarlly impossible to play with flat fingers!!!! Thanx Nat

Dear Natalie,
Don't worrie about your wrist ploblems I used to have the same problem. My teacher used to lift my wrist up with a pencil while I was playing and after a few days I was palying the piano with my wrist up.
So, ask your teacher or friend to try and put your wrist up with a pencil and see if works.

I hope the Watchmans Song turns out well.

Martina

If it is impossible to play it with flat fingers won't that make you hold you hand correctly anyway?

QUOTE (sbhoa @ May 10 2004, 09:14 AM)

If it is impossible to play it with flat fingers won't that make you hold you hand correctly anyway?

well yes!! but its taken me ages to actually get myself to hold my hands correctly!! i couldnt do that part for weeks!!

QUOTE

If it is impossible to play it with flat fingers won't that make you hold you hand correctly anyway?

you'd be surprised at the hand positions that people do manage to play with, i used to know someone who could play rondo alla turca theme lying on her back on the piano stool looking at the ceiling with her arms over her head!

I must remember to be extra vigilant over my pupils hand position right from the start

oh dear oh dear oh dear

this piece is now turning into a complete disaster i just caaaaaaaaaaaaaant do it right , my 4th finger always hits another note which is not meant to happen. i had my lesson today and we tried different hand positions andnothings working oh dear oh dear, this is a nightmare

Don't panic Natalie, take things really slowly and watch what your hands and wrists are doing, i know this may seem an obvious thing to say and for you to do but it does work and although you think that maybe that is what you are doing yu'd be surprised. As you feel more and more comfortable with it then and only then start to speed up. What other pieces are you playing for the grade 4 i have a pupil just started but going great guns with the "Previn"

Don't panic Natalie, take things really slowly and watch what your hands and wrists are doing, i know this may seem an obvious thing to say and for you to do but it does work and although you think that maybe that is what you are doing yu'd be surprised. As you feel more and more comfortable with it then and only then start to speed up. What other pieces are you playing for the grade 4 i have a pupil just started but going great guns with the "Previn"

thanks for the advice stevieplinkplonk!!(like the name lol)!!

im also playing Rondo in F and Sunset over Stac Pollaidh