For Grade 7, does anyone else find the staccato sixths C major scale really difficult? I just can't seem to hit the right notes, especially in the left hand. Should I be keeping my hand as rigid as possible or should I try and keep it relaxed? Any help on this would be great!

I find the right hand okay but I think the left hand is harder. I try to keep my hand in the same rigid position and try not to think about what I am doing otherwise I make mistakes!

Best way to play staccato sixths is to keep the hand and arm relaxed, not tensed. Try to 'flop' on to each 6th, my piano teacher used to liken it (in the context of playing octaves) to falling tired into an armchair! You want to use gravity and your wrist to play the notes, not tense fingers. Note not to overdo the movement!

Relax!

Dangermouse

I've just done this grade and I found that for the staccato sixths I had to keep the hand relaxed but hold the fingers at a constant distance apart in order to play the sixths.

If you are having difficulties remember it will come with practice. That's all it takes.

Shelton

I've tried out both of your suggestions and although playing with a relaxed hand is less wearing on your arm, I find the staccato lacks clarity when I do this... However, I've tried the thing about using gravity and your wrist to play the notes and this works! I've come to a kind of compromise where my fingers are rigid so that they keep their position, but my arm is still relaxed and I am using the weight from this to play the notes. I'm getting the hang of it now, although I'm still finding the left hand difficult! Thanks for your help, Dangermouse and Musicmad_banana!

Thankyou Shelton! From your description, I think this is roughly what I'm now doing, and it's working! Yay! Hopefully the left hand will come with practice, like you say.

Well done Rosie. This is exactly the technique for staccato sixths. You want very little movement from your wrists - the more movement you make the lower is your speed. Keep everything except your fingers loose and fluid. Only exert enoug pressure on your fingers to keep them rigid - avoid over tensing them.

Eventually, you will need to play double octaves. The technique for these is exactly the same, so mastering the 6ths will be useful for you.

Steve

I was taught to do this with a pen - held between fingers 1 and 5. Find a pen that's roughly the same length as a 6th ! Hold it between your fingers - and get moving your hand from the wrist.

What a brilliant idea, Helen. I will cut a suitable sized pencil into a tool tomorrow.

I sit here now, trying to imagine it. Holding the 'tool in the fleshy part of the fingers feels awkward- it could catch on the keys. Holding it back of the joints feels as though the joints could collapse so that the ends of the fingers could flap around loosely.

The answers might be obvious tomorrow when I try it. If not, I would appreciate further comments.

Steve

I think it's not a good idea to keep your hands rigid coz it'll hurt your hands in the long run. You have to be relax...try to practice staccato not only in scale but also in any other pieces of music..right hand first and then left hand...vice versa. It do make your fingers to be more stronger.

Regarding the scale, since your left hand is relatively weaker..u also have to practice with your single hand first...left hand and then right hand.
One thing, remember to use your finger tips to hit the notes. Try to use the finger tips to grab the notes...(the action is just like a cat's paw) Practice it for serveral times and you'll hit the notes by this method~ It works

OK - further comments: you hold the pen (pencil/piece of twig, whatever) on the fleshy part of the fingers. No need to worry about it catching on the keys, as you don't need to hit them. In fact, you can practise it well away from the (piano) keyboard - sitting at your desk is fine. It's just to get the movement - your fingers can't collapse, as the pen will drop! But you don't actually play with the pen between your fingers!!(How much did you have to drink last night?!)
Hope that's a little clearer.
Helen

I used to think of 'bouncing' the hand off the piano - keeping the wrist and arm steady but having the hand totally flexible.

It helped to practice using my free hand to hold my wrist steady and play the sixths using my hand only