http://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/experts/robert/faster/
Another great Robert Estrin video on how to play the piano faster.
He points out that the two things that are required to increase speed is finger strength and using proper technique.
Practicing naturally will add strength. Adding scales, arpeggios and exercises to your practice that enhance that strength.
He offers a couple of ways to develop greater speed in your piano playing.
One is to practice slowly, using a metronome, increasing speed one notch at a time.
Another way is to take the piece apart, one small part at a time. Focus on mastering a particular phrase using one hand position/finger patterns. Practice that one phrase slowly, with the metronome. Gradually increase it until you can play it rapidly and fluently.
Take the next little phrase and practice it the same way.
Then then the last couple of notes of the first phrase and add them to the second phrase. Practice until flawless. Then play the entire two phrases together until mastered.
Continue through the piece.
Use minimal arm weight. The fingers are basically fluttering over the keys.
Showing posts with label Fingering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fingering. Show all posts
Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Video #17 How to Play Hanon Exercises
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF1_zGpwbPQ
How do you effectively practice Hanon exercises? Check out this Robert Estrin video. Some of the points he covers include:
1. Always use a metronome. Start with a setting of 60.
2. It's all about finger strength. Use only the fingers, not the arms.
3. Keep fingers raised.
4. Once you've gone through this exercise several times at 1 note to a beat, move on to 2 notes to a beat, still with fingers raised.
5. Next, move on to 4 notes to a beat. There's no time to raise fingers now. Fingers close to the keys. ROUNDED hands.
6. Practice Hanon every day--focusing on one exercise a week.
7. After you've gone through the first 10 exercises, you're ready to move on to scales and arpeggios.
How do you effectively practice Hanon exercises? Check out this Robert Estrin video. Some of the points he covers include:
1. Always use a metronome. Start with a setting of 60.
2. It's all about finger strength. Use only the fingers, not the arms.
3. Keep fingers raised.
4. Once you've gone through this exercise several times at 1 note to a beat, move on to 2 notes to a beat, still with fingers raised.
5. Next, move on to 4 notes to a beat. There's no time to raise fingers now. Fingers close to the keys. ROUNDED hands.
6. Practice Hanon every day--focusing on one exercise a week.
7. After you've gone through the first 10 exercises, you're ready to move on to scales and arpeggios.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Video #15 Power Versus Speed
An excellent Robert Estrin video on when to rely on the power of the arms versus the speed of the fingers to accomplish desired effect. And when to use wrists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcGJQoh-Dss
In a nutshell:
Arms: Use the arms for powerful passages.
Fingers: Use fingers for speed.
Wrists: Wrists are important in chord technique, especially when playing staccato, octaves and phrasing.
You need to use different parts of the body for different passages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcGJQoh-Dss
In a nutshell:
Arms: Use the arms for powerful passages.
Fingers: Use fingers for speed.
Wrists: Wrists are important in chord technique, especially when playing staccato, octaves and phrasing.
You need to use different parts of the body for different passages.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Video #11 How to Play Repeated Notes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtlCldRtokk&list=PL7ir4ALMvepUxQhFEdXtk6vEg7-5thFXE
A great video on playing repeated notes.
Here are some tips:
1. Using the 3-2-1 fingering!.
2. Play lightly.
3. Play close to the keys.
4. Practice clean release of notes.
5. Practice slowly and use metronome, increasing speed one notch at a time.
6. Practice sectionally, then group notes together.
A great video on playing repeated notes.
Here are some tips:
1. Using the 3-2-1 fingering!.
2. Play lightly.
3. Play close to the keys.
4. Practice clean release of notes.
5. Practice slowly and use metronome, increasing speed one notch at a time.
6. Practice sectionally, then group notes together.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Video #6: How to Practice Scales and Arpeggios
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8xDEzeKxVM&list=RDO6AAkGBc0eg&index=7
Robert Estrin points out that the reasons you should practice scales and arpeggios:
1. A great deal of music is made up of scales and arpeggios--they're building blocks.
2. Scales and arpeggios help you develop good finger technique.
3. They're a good warm-up--SLOW scales are especially good for warm-up.
4. Hanon's 60 exercises are a must--all the scales and arpeggios.
Robert Estrin points out that the reasons you should practice scales and arpeggios:
1. A great deal of music is made up of scales and arpeggios--they're building blocks.
2. Scales and arpeggios help you develop good finger technique.
3. They're a good warm-up--SLOW scales are especially good for warm-up.
4. Hanon's 60 exercises are a must--all the scales and arpeggios.
Video #7: Hand Position and Finger Technique--That's What it's All About
Wow. I am so impressed with Robert Estrin's YouTube videos on piano technique.
This particular video points out that hand position and finger technique is what it's all about. The one point he makes that is especially important is when maneuvering through a piece with different hand positions, you must instantly place your hand in the new position on the first note of the new passage. For example, you cross under your thumb then INSTANTLY put your hand in the new position.
He says that's critical to learning to playing difficult passages. It's all about hand position and finger technique. When practicing a piece, play one phrase at a time until you have it down. Then practice that phrase with the first note of the next phrase (in the new hand position).
That may be as clear as mud but watch this video because it is really excellent. Wonderful practice ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6nqqLQslI
This particular video points out that hand position and finger technique is what it's all about. The one point he makes that is especially important is when maneuvering through a piece with different hand positions, you must instantly place your hand in the new position on the first note of the new passage. For example, you cross under your thumb then INSTANTLY put your hand in the new position.
He says that's critical to learning to playing difficult passages. It's all about hand position and finger technique. When practicing a piece, play one phrase at a time until you have it down. Then practice that phrase with the first note of the next phrase (in the new hand position).
That may be as clear as mud but watch this video because it is really excellent. Wonderful practice ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6nqqLQslI
Video #4: Brilliant Fingerwork--Practice Scales Slowly and Raised Fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KdWG-zIFY4&index=4&list=RDO6AAkGBc0eg
Another great YouTube video by Robert Estrin on how to develop techniques to get the brilliant fast finger work. The secret he discusses in this video is to practice scales SLOWLY and with RAISED FINGERS.
Another great YouTube video by Robert Estrin on how to develop techniques to get the brilliant fast finger work. The secret he discusses in this video is to practice scales SLOWLY and with RAISED FINGERS.
Video #2: Finger Technique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6AAkGBc0eg
Check this out for finger technique. The secret is that as soon as you cross under your thumb, immediately get your hand placed in the next position, ready to play!
Check this out for finger technique. The secret is that as soon as you cross under your thumb, immediately get your hand placed in the next position, ready to play!
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