Hi Dr. Boyd. Great vid, sound advice, thank you. Can you expand a bit on trilling with the left hand? To brag a little bit, I have no problem with executing fast, rhythmically excellent trills in my RH. Rotation definitely at work. When it comes to LH trills, though, my rotation in the LH is a bit spastic. When I rotate in the air with my RH, my hand is one unit, but when I do so with my left, I find that I don't have a solid hand and 3-4-5 flop about. This is especially problematical in the Bach A major invention, which has long trills in both hands as a major melodic element. I can execute the all the RH trills easily, but the LH trills are labored and much slower. Can you help. Many thanks from a long time subscriber.
This is a really common problem, unfortunately! Many people feel less coordinated in their left hands than their right with trills. I'll have a think about this and see if I can come up with a video on the topic. Meanwhile, good luck and thanks for watching! 👋
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you. I started holding a tennis ball in both hands and rotating. Grasping the tennis ball keeps the fingers under control. I'll let you know if there is progress.
@@JoeLinux2000 Try grasping a tennis ball in each hand and rotating kin the air. Even after a few days of doing it, I think it is heling to keep the fingers under control.
Another brilliant video..thank you so much.I have been teaching for years but I really want to help them to get to the next level and all your videos are really helping me to help them to achieve this.Many thanks again❤(I'me writing from Israel!)
Chopin Polonaise in F# minor - the intense trills in the bass? I need to start by taking the time to write down the best fingering and do it slowly and rhythmically at first. I read somewhere that Chopin's trills began on the upper note.
You got it! 💪🏻 Figuring out the fingering that works best for you and committing to it is a good idea. Applying rotation should help as well. Yes, most sources say that Chopin's trills begin on the upper note, although some other sources may differ.
Quick question Kate, can you use this technique for broken octaves as well? I have started using your suggestion for my trills and I can see some noticeable improvement. Thank you very much.
Thank you! Yes, this technique can absolutely help with broken octaves as well. Focus on keeping your wrist flexible, using rotation, and maintaining a loose, relaxed thumb. I’m so glad your trills are improving! 🎹😊
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you so much Kate, they are noticeably improving. Previously, I always used the 2nd & 3rd fingers, the left hand was ok but the right hand was conspicuously slower so when I saw your little instruction video on this, I started using it and will not bother going back to the 2nd/3rd routine any more. Also, in these emails, do you prefer being addressed as Kate or Professor Boyd?
@@edwardfrederick7409 Thank you for your kind words-I’m so glad to hear it’s making a difference! And feel free to address me as Kate-that’s perfectly fine! 😊🎹
Hello Dr Boyd. Can I ask your opinion on something? Have you ever had mature students try to graduate from university with a classical music degree? I get the impression that it's a young person's game, but the lifestyle of constant practice and being so immersed in music sounds like something I'd be interested in when I'm good enough. Being honest, is it worth it for someone who will likely be in their 40's when they are at a level that could be good enough?
I have had several non-traditional students who have pursued music degrees. Evaluating whether something is “worth it” is really quite individual, depending on someone’s specific circumstances and goals. What are your goals? I can say that you will never be younger than you are today, and if an idea intrigues you, it it certainly worth looking into! There is something unique about the immersive experience that is available to students who are able to focus deeply on a subject. I have found that older students often have a strong sense of purpose and focus, and that they are able to progress well, perhaps due to the fact that they are already formed as people and have learned to use their time well and prioritize.
Beautiful piece! This is pretty common, unfortunately! The same principle apply that I talk about in this video but maybe I'll make a video about left hand trills sometime.
I saw a video from another teacher advising that to help in executing trills, you should “throw” your hand a little bit onto the keys as you first start the trill. Any comments on this?
Great tips, and I use most of them already. But C#-D is awkward - I am using 2-4 (first trill in Mendelssohn's famous Gondollied (Op30#6)) but it feels uncomfortable with the wrist bent, and the 4th finger dropped more, and also harder to crescendo much. It will be OK with practice I suppose, but is there anything better?
I love that piece! For that particular trill, I angle my hand to the right to get better leverage. Also, I make sure not to drop the wrist too low. Hard to express using just words - hope this helps!
![How to Improve Your Left Hand ACCURACY and SPEED [7 Tips!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3F0_XC5euyY/mqdefault.jpg)
![How to Improve Your Left Hand ACCURACY and SPEED [7 Tips!]](/img/tr.png)
Perfect discussion… and advice . I currently working on a piece by Chopin… he lives trills.. hope I get it right
Glad it was helpful! You can do it! ☺️
Very helpful and timely for me! Just was assigned piece with a lot of trills.
Great - good luck! You got this!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your support! I really appreciate it! 😊🎹
Hi Dr. Boyd, I was just studying trills! Thank you again for all the techniques and the positivity! Greetings from Portugal
It's my pleasure! ☺️
Hi Dr. Boyd. Great vid, sound advice, thank you. Can you expand a bit on trilling with the left hand? To brag a little bit, I have no problem with executing fast, rhythmically excellent trills in my RH. Rotation definitely at work. When it comes to LH trills, though, my rotation in the LH is a bit spastic. When I rotate in the air with my RH, my hand is one unit, but when I do so with my left, I find that I don't have a solid hand and 3-4-5 flop about. This is especially problematical in the Bach A major invention, which has long trills in both hands as a major melodic element. I can execute the all the RH trills easily, but the LH trills are labored and much slower. Can you help. Many thanks from a long time subscriber.
Same problem here.
This is a really common problem, unfortunately! Many people feel less coordinated in their left hands than their right with trills. I'll have a think about this and see if I can come up with a video on the topic. Meanwhile, good luck and thanks for watching! 👋
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you. I started holding a tennis ball in both hands and rotating. Grasping the tennis ball keeps the fingers under control. I'll let you know if there is progress.
@@JoeLinux2000 Try grasping a tennis ball in each hand and rotating kin the air. Even after a few days of doing it, I think it is heling to keep the fingers under control.
Thanks a million for this. Greetings from Ireland
You're very welcome!
Thanks for the tips, Kate. Very helpful.
Glad it was useful to you! You're very welcome! 😊
Another brilliant video..thank you so much.I have been teaching for years but I really want to help them to get to the next level and all your videos are really helping me to help them to achieve this.Many thanks again❤(I'me writing from Israel!)
It's my pleasure 😊 glad to be of help!
I’m happy to,have found your video -will try the exercise and see what happens.
Hope it helps! Happy practicing! 😊
Great advice. Thank you!
Of course! 😊
Very helpful
I'm so glad! ☺️
Chopin Polonaise in F# minor - the intense trills in the bass? I need to start by taking the time to write down the best fingering and do it slowly and rhythmically at first. I read somewhere that Chopin's trills began on the upper note.
You got it! 💪🏻 Figuring out the fingering that works best for you and committing to it is a good idea. Applying rotation should help as well. Yes, most sources say that Chopin's trills begin on the upper note, although some other sources may differ.
Quick question Kate, can you use this technique for broken octaves as well? I have started using your suggestion for my trills and I can see some noticeable improvement. Thank you very much.
Thank you! Yes, this technique can absolutely help with broken octaves as well. Focus on keeping your wrist flexible, using rotation, and maintaining a loose, relaxed thumb. I’m so glad your trills are improving! 🎹😊
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thank you so much Kate, they are noticeably improving. Previously, I always used the 2nd & 3rd fingers, the left hand was ok but the right hand was conspicuously slower so when I saw your little instruction video on this, I started using it and will not bother going back to the 2nd/3rd routine any more. Also, in these emails, do you prefer being addressed as Kate or Professor Boyd?
@@edwardfrederick7409 Thank you for your kind words-I’m so glad to hear it’s making a difference! And feel free to address me as Kate-that’s perfectly fine! 😊🎹
Thank you Kate. It is now a matter of discipline on my part going forward. 😊
Hello Dr Boyd. Can I ask your opinion on something? Have you ever had mature students try to graduate from university with a classical music degree?
I get the impression that it's a young person's game, but the lifestyle of constant practice and being so immersed in music sounds like something I'd be interested in when I'm good enough.
Being honest, is it worth it for someone who will likely be in their 40's when they are at a level that could be good enough?
I have had several non-traditional students who have pursued music degrees. Evaluating whether something is “worth it” is really quite individual, depending on someone’s specific circumstances and goals. What are your goals?
I can say that you will never be younger than you are today, and if an idea intrigues you, it it certainly worth looking into!
There is something unique about the immersive experience that is available to students who are able to focus deeply on a subject. I have found that older students often have a strong sense of purpose and focus, and that they are able to progress well, perhaps due to the fact that they are already formed as people and have learned to use their time well and prioritize.
👋Watch this next: th-cam.com/video/0iT8sXb5Rnw/w-d-xo.html
Working on Scriabin's Nocturne for the left hand. I can do the trills with my right hand, but my left hand is much more awkward.
Beautiful piece! This is pretty common, unfortunately! The same principle apply that I talk about in this video but maybe I'll make a video about left hand trills sometime.
This might sound like a stupid question, but do ypu have the same advice for tremolo's?
There are no stupid questions! 😊 A lot of the advice holds, for example, using rotation to play tremolo. Similar back-and-forth principles. Good luck!
I saw a video from another teacher advising that to help in executing trills, you should “throw” your hand a little bit onto the keys as you first start the trill. Any comments on this?
That is a very interesting tip! I would suggest trying it out and seeing if that makes a difference for you. Happy practicing!
Demonstrate Phillip Glass's Etude #6
Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi teacher , may I know if u have teach about how to analyse a music piece ?
👏🏻🙏
Great tips, and I use most of them already. But C#-D is awkward - I am using 2-4 (first trill in Mendelssohn's famous Gondollied (Op30#6)) but it feels uncomfortable with the wrist bent, and the 4th finger dropped more, and also harder to crescendo much. It will be OK with practice I suppose, but is there anything better?
I love that piece! For that particular trill, I angle my hand to the right to get better leverage. Also, I make sure not to drop the wrist too low. Hard to express using just words - hope this helps!
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd @ThePianoProfKateBoyd Love it too! It also inspired me to compose a piece of my own, for which I am very grateful.
I avoid playing pieces with trills
Go for the challenge, I was never great with them, but enough practice it sounds good enough to please people. You got it!
@@geoffbrugger426 Thanks