i need a pianist! (again) - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Pseudojim · 29th Oct 2010, 01:10 AM

Hi all!

So, i'm trying to teach myself piano. It seems, through some observations of some musically inclined friends, that i'm very nimble and quick with my fingers, and i can play some pretty complex stuff very quickly... but i struggle with what i'm told is called dynamics, specifically in my left hand. It's really really hard to get the weight on the key just right, even if i slow it down and concentrate. Are there any exercises i can do to improve this side of my playing?

**Helen** · 29th Oct 2010, 02:39 AM

Hmm...maybe try starting with concentrating on the right hand, and making THAT more pronounced, as opposed to just focusing on the left. That will get you used to the sound, and it might just shift the balance by itself.

Or perhaps it's to do with how your fingers are positioned, are you using the pads of your fingers? If so, you should try to curve your fingers more. Try squeezing a tennis ball for a few seconds several times. That's the kind of hand position you want to achieve.

Good luck!

Pseudojim · 29th Oct 2010, 02:55 AM

i am playing both at once, i don't actually play anything just with one hand... it's just that my left really sucks at getting the dynamics right where my right hand seems to get it fairly well.

and yeah i think my wrist is okay, and fingers. They did suck but i got some good advice from a friend on how to properly position them when i play

---------- Post added 29th Oct 2010 at 08:58 PM ----------

if it helps, the piece i am trying to play at the moment is The Heart Asks Pleasure First by michael nyman. I've learned a lot more simple stuff, but i wanted to learn something a bit more difficult as a stepping stone to the kind of stuff i really want to play

**Helen** · 29th Oct 2010, 03:07 AM

Well if you aren't playing ANYTHING separately, I would recommend that you do that. It's great that you've picked up playing things hands together so fast, but you do need to treat them like separate entities. If you know the piece well, it won't hurt for you to practise the left hand on its own, and it will probably help you control the dynamics.

Pseudojim · 29th Oct 2010, 03:10 AM

so i should learn both parts separately, and then join them?

[edit] it always seemed so natural to me to learn both together, and it's come fairly quickly... am i missing out on finer details though?

**Helen** · 29th Oct 2010, 04:17 AM

You probably are missing out the finer details, yes. There really isn't much of a point in just learning it all at once. When I was first learning I could pick it up very quickly as well, but my teacher always made sure that I practised the parts separately. And it was for just the same reasons; my hands were very unevenly balanced in terms of dynamics, it was all thumpy and completely lacking in musicality

So yes, separately is the way to go :3 Like I said, it won't exactly hurt, and it will improve the sound massively.

29th Oct 2010, 01:10 AM	#1
Pseudojim Part robot Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bi - Kinsey 2ish Out Status: All but family Location: Australia Age: 27 Posts: 2,154 Join Date: Sep 2009	i need a pianist! (again) Hi all! So, i'm trying to teach myself piano. It seems, through some observations of some musically inclined friends, that i'm very nimble and quick with my fingers, and i can play some pretty complex stuff very quickly... but i struggle with what i'm told is called dynamics, specifically in my left hand. It's really really hard to get the weight on the key just right, even if i slow it down and concentrate. Are there any exercises i can do to improve this side of my playing?

29th Oct 2010, 02:39 AM	#2
Helen Empty Closets Mod EC Moderator Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Inconsequential if people know. Location: York, United Kingdom Age: 19 Posts: 2,102 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: i need a pianist! (again) Hmm...maybe try starting with concentrating on the right hand, and making THAT more pronounced, as opposed to just focusing on the left. That will get you used to the sound, and it might just shift the balance by itself. Or perhaps it's to do with how your fingers are positioned, are you using the pads of your fingers? If so, you should try to curve your fingers more. Try squeezing a tennis ball for a few seconds several times. That's the kind of hand position you want to achieve. Good luck! __________________ I want a window where I can see a tree, or even water... (....and the lesbians)

29th Oct 2010, 02:55 AM	#3
Pseudojim Part robot Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bi - Kinsey 2ish Out Status: All but family Location: Australia Age: 27 Posts: 2,154 Join Date: Sep 2009	Re: i need a pianist! (again) i am playing both at once, i don't actually play anything just with one hand... it's just that my left really sucks at getting the dynamics right where my right hand seems to get it fairly well. and yeah i think my wrist is okay, and fingers. They did suck but i got some good advice from a friend on how to properly position them when i play ---------- Post added 29th Oct 2010 at 08:58 PM ---------- if it helps, the piece i am trying to play at the moment is The Heart Asks Pleasure First by michael nyman. I've learned a lot more simple stuff, but i wanted to learn something a bit more difficult as a stepping stone to the kind of stuff i really want to play

29th Oct 2010, 03:07 AM	#4
Helen Empty Closets Mod EC Moderator Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Inconsequential if people know. Location: York, United Kingdom Age: 19 Posts: 2,102 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: i need a pianist! (again) Well if you aren't playing ANYTHING separately, I would recommend that you do that. It's great that you've picked up playing things hands together so fast, but you do need to treat them like separate entities. If you know the piece well, it won't hurt for you to practise the left hand on its own, and it will probably help you control the dynamics. __________________ I want a window where I can see a tree, or even water... (....and the lesbians)

29th Oct 2010, 03:10 AM	#5
Pseudojim Part robot Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bi - Kinsey 2ish Out Status: All but family Location: Australia Age: 27 Posts: 2,154 Join Date: Sep 2009	Re: i need a pianist! (again) so i should learn both parts separately, and then join them? [edit] it always seemed so natural to me to learn both together, and it's come fairly quickly... am i missing out on finer details though? Last edited by Pseudojim; 29th Oct 2010 at 03:12 AM..

29th Oct 2010, 04:17 AM	#6
Helen Empty Closets Mod EC Moderator Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Inconsequential if people know. Location: York, United Kingdom Age: 19 Posts: 2,102 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: i need a pianist! (again) You probably are missing out the finer details, yes. There really isn't much of a point in just learning it all at once. When I was first learning I could pick it up very quickly as well, but my teacher always made sure that I practised the parts separately. And it was for just the same reasons; my hands were very unevenly balanced in terms of dynamics, it was all thumpy and completely lacking in musicality So yes, separately is the way to go :3 Like I said, it won't exactly hurt, and it will improve the sound massively. __________________ I want a window where I can see a tree, or even water... (....and the lesbians)