It was cool to take part :) And another tip I just remembered - try to only play with the tip/side of the thumb, but never with the 'bony' part/knuckle, or you risk it to be too heavy/loud, uncontrollable, and physically inefficient (too 'far' into the finger). The bone/knuckle has to remain lifted at all times. This is the way! (c) :-D
Well yes, that is what I was taught. And on black keys the thumb spreads out a bit more, on white key is is bit more rounded. Thank you for the additional information.
Great tip on the thumb flipping technique Elina! When coming down with the right hand, is the hand position vertical with the keys or at an angle to the left?
@@tmcleung great question! If you got a leap, you may rotate it a bit, but try to rather leap quickly (horizontally) to the next note, and just let the previous note / thumb go. (Use the pedal for legato in this case) If it’s in a scale, it shouldn’t really require rotating. Agh, we need to make another video on all this! :-D
@@roadguide123 pedaling did you mean? indeed, there are two videos with basics and advanced tips, check out them in this playlist th-cam.com/play/PLpAb_ZJzHV_3cnN9w8M_kon06o6YbRNVN.html
Para las personas que tienen un pulgar muy corto, no como el de la pianista del video, cual sería el cosejo, no queda otro remedio que soltar casi al mismo tiempo que pasa la mano por arriba y de la misma manera que cuando pasa el pulgar por debajo, puede ser?Muchas gracias maestro.
Thank you for this video ! The two things in general that helped me the most, and that you mentioned here, were : 1 - the release of the thumb in order to conserve agility (essential in any fast passages) 2 - what Elina talked about, though I don't think of it as "moving the thumb" but more as "playing through the key". That way of thinking has helped me a lot in the descending arpeggios of Chopin 10/1 for instance.
You have a surprise guest in this lesson...). 😎 All is very clear and understandable. I also learned the preferred exact default position of the thumb when hitting white keys, and recently when hitting black keys (sometimes unavoidable). And there is a huge discussion about "thumb over" or "thumb under" in forums. I still do not understand what people mean with "thumb over". Probably never I use my thumb to go "over" or above other fingers in any passage. But I prepare my thumb in advance when moving fast. (I will study your advanced lessons for subsribers in Patreon...) Thank you again, and I hope that the information given will stick while actually playing. 😊
Hi Denis, i summarily studied the human thumb anatomy to understand how it works with the hope I could elucidate my inexplicable right thumb piano playing weird issue possibly from an injury sequel i suffered three decades ago (no proof). I've always thought that it left no sequel (no pain and no apparent range limitation) but lately i have come back on that. I saw that there are two main tendons involved when bending to curve the thumb in reverse outward. They are connected to muscles in the forearm and must slide over the thumb 2nd joint and attach to the last bone. They're easily visible for anyone. For the reverse movement to close or bend the thumb in there are local shorter muscles between the thumb and the base bones of the hand and other fingers. And last, the finger bones are held together by a complicated set of short ligaments at the endings of bones attaching them with some freedom for movement. Using my other hand's finger i palpated my right thumb skin with light pressure to find any anomaly and found a small bump 1-2 mm thick where ligament would connect bones at the 2nd joint. It is most felt when the thumb is curved in, it's not visible without touching but it's definitively not there in my other hand. I actually remember that this came from the injury but I always ignored it as I thought it had zero consequences. I have not been able to determine by simple self observation and manipulation any connection between that slight bump and the piano playing issue i have with this thumb. But that is suspicious because my left hand does not have it. I read one hand specialists doctor webpage and they deal 100% only with musician with pain, all sorts of pain. But i have zero pain, so i am more than reticent to see them and i have no confidence in modern medecine based on what i have seen in my life with other people around me and doctors. So i don't know what to do, i'll keep practicing.
@@DenZhdanovPianistThanks Denis. I hope so, I'll keep you posted. I wish you a Happy New Year, and fruitful prosperous expansion of your activity around the piano.
What do I do if I need to play fortissimo with the thumb after going under my hand to make sure I have enough strength / momentum? Great tips, by the way 😊
Difficult to say not knowing which exactly spot you keep in mind. But in general: in order to play fortissimo one needs to move the key very fast, and there are a few ways to do so. If there is no way to use gravity (in other words to fall down on the key from some height), you can also use a quick small rotation of the wrist counter-clockwise in order to accelerate the thumb.
@@DenZhdanovPianist Thanks! It seems that a lot of the difficulty in piano playing is tied to what spots you're playing on. I did a quick search on "Tricky piano spots" and "Difficult piano areas" and got no relevant results. Maybe an interesting subject for your next instructional videos? 🙃
Wonderful thinking and ability to communicate ! I hope must of us will have chance to have at least a couple of private lessons and to buy you a drink I think it would be helpful if you selected a few piano pieces sequenced on easier to Changeling
Thank you very much Elina, that is very helpful.
It was cool to take part :) And another tip I just remembered - try to only play with the tip/side of the thumb, but never with the 'bony' part/knuckle, or you risk it to be too heavy/loud, uncontrollable, and physically inefficient (too 'far' into the finger). The bone/knuckle has to remain lifted at all times. This is the way! (c) :-D
Well yes, that is what I was taught. And on black keys the thumb spreads out a bit more, on white key is is bit more rounded. Thank you for the additional information.
Great tip on the thumb flipping technique Elina! When coming down with the right hand, is the hand position vertical with the keys or at an angle to the left?
@@tmcleung great question! If you got a leap, you may rotate it a bit, but try to rather leap quickly (horizontally) to the next note, and just let the previous note / thumb go. (Use the pedal for legato in this case) If it’s in a scale, it shouldn’t really require rotating.
Agh, we need to make another video on all this! :-D
Excellent...you deserve a lot more subscribers...I’m glad I found your channel
I wish you make a video on the little finger
Thanks
Thanks! I did it a while ago, and mentioned it in this video.
Here you go th-cam.com/video/vLkm7r5AFp8/w-d-xo.html
@@DenZhdanovPianist thank you for the reply...any videos on peddling?😊
@@roadguide123 pedaling did you mean? indeed, there are two videos with basics and advanced tips, check out them in this playlist th-cam.com/play/PLpAb_ZJzHV_3cnN9w8M_kon06o6YbRNVN.html
@@DenZhdanovPianist damn autocorrect
Thanks for your help...much appreciated
I do all the wrong things that you suggest should not be done 😩 , so I will have to adopt new ways .thank you Denis .
🤞
Para las personas que tienen un pulgar muy corto, no como el de la pianista del video, cual sería el cosejo, no queda otro remedio que soltar casi al mismo tiempo que pasa la mano por arriba y de la misma manera que cuando pasa el pulgar por debajo, puede ser?Muchas gracias maestro.
Thank you for this video !
The two things in general that helped me the most, and that you mentioned here, were :
1 - the release of the thumb in order to conserve agility (essential in any fast passages)
2 - what Elina talked about, though I don't think of it as "moving the thumb" but more as "playing through the key". That way of thinking has helped me a lot in the descending arpeggios of Chopin 10/1 for instance.
La professoressa ha un suono incredibile!!!😮 fantastico.
really nice video, thanks!!
Outstanding content.
Thank You
thank you! very informative
Wow this video is underrated
You have a surprise guest in this lesson...). 😎
All is very clear and understandable. I also learned the preferred exact default position of the thumb when hitting white keys, and recently when hitting black keys (sometimes unavoidable).
And there is a huge discussion about "thumb over" or "thumb under" in forums. I still do not understand what people mean with "thumb over". Probably never I use my thumb to go "over" or above other fingers in any passage. But I prepare my thumb in advance when moving fast. (I will study your advanced lessons for subsribers in Patreon...)
Thank you again, and I hope that the information given will stick while actually playing. 😊
If you were a guitarist, you'd have a MILLION subs. Nice work!
I knew I’m doin it all wrong!😂
Hi Denis, i summarily studied the human thumb anatomy to understand how it works with the hope I could elucidate my inexplicable right thumb piano playing weird issue possibly from an injury sequel i suffered three decades ago (no proof). I've always thought that it left no sequel (no pain and no apparent range limitation) but lately i have come back on that. I saw that there are two main tendons involved when bending to curve the thumb in reverse outward. They are connected to muscles in the forearm and must slide over the thumb 2nd joint and attach to the last bone. They're easily visible for anyone. For the reverse movement to close or bend the thumb in there are local shorter muscles between the thumb and the base bones of the hand and other fingers. And last, the finger bones are held together by a complicated set of short ligaments at the endings of bones attaching them with some freedom for movement. Using my other hand's finger i palpated my right thumb skin with light pressure to find any anomaly and found a small bump 1-2 mm thick where ligament would connect bones at the 2nd joint. It is most felt when the thumb is curved in, it's not visible without touching but it's definitively not there in my other hand. I actually remember that this came from the injury but I always ignored it as I thought it had zero consequences. I have not been able to determine by simple self observation and manipulation any connection between that slight bump and the piano playing issue i have with this thumb. But that is suspicious because my left hand does not have it.
I read one hand specialists doctor webpage and they deal 100% only with musician with pain, all sorts of pain. But i have zero pain, so i am more than reticent to see them and i have no confidence in modern medecine based on what i have seen in my life with other people around me and doctors.
So i don't know what to do, i'll keep practicing.
Interesting! I hope you find an answer to that!
@@DenZhdanovPianistThanks Denis. I hope so, I'll keep you posted. I wish you a Happy New Year, and fruitful prosperous expansion of your activity around the piano.
Great!!!
What do I do if I need to play fortissimo with the thumb after going under my hand to make sure I have enough strength / momentum?
Great tips, by the way 😊
Difficult to say not knowing which exactly spot you keep in mind. But in general: in order to play fortissimo one needs to move the key very fast, and there are a few ways to do so. If there is no way to use gravity (in other words to fall down on the key from some height), you can also use a quick small rotation of the wrist counter-clockwise in order to accelerate the thumb.
@@DenZhdanovPianist Thanks!
It seems that a lot of the difficulty in piano playing is tied to what spots you're playing on. I did a quick search on "Tricky piano spots" and "Difficult piano areas" and got no relevant results. Maybe an interesting subject for your next instructional videos? 🙃
Wonderful thinking and ability to communicate ! I hope must of us will have chance to have at least a couple of private lessons and to buy you a drink
I think it would be helpful if you selected a few piano pieces sequenced on easier to Changeling
Parabéns pelo excelente video, qual é esta musica que voce toca aos 2,44 minutos do video?
Thanks.
Just a random improvisation with typical harmonic progression and hand position patterns in the accompaniment.
It sounds actually like the G major suite for cello, transposed to one key higher ( in a flat).
This is especially forJonathan whose thumb bends in a wrong direction
Your audio on little finger has great audio ,
My left thumb tends to stick out when I play.
Small hands have to stretch to play octaves. I think the technique needed to play piano with small hands is an area very under-studied.