Question: Where do your hands go when you are beginning to play a song?
– Bob (New York, New York, USA)
Albert’s reply: You’re referring primarily to hand position here, and secondarily to piano fingering.
Hand position refers a block of keys which fall underneath the fingers at any given tim...
Question: How should you place your hand while you’re playing the piano?
– Oliver
Albert’s reply: The hand should be curved in a smooth arc, roughly forming a half-circle.
If you place your hand flat on a table and slide your wrist forward while keeping your fingertips in place, the hand will...
Question: I would like to know what exercises I can do to strengthen and train my left hand. I have been searching the internet and have only found a few, but there are thousands out there. Any suggestions where I can get specific exercises/drills for the left hand would be appreciated.
– Shelia ...
Question: Hello Albert,
Firstly, many thanks for the positive feedback you have given me to my questions which is a tremendous help.
My question today relates to technique, working the fingers in a proper way to enable them to become supple, strong, thus enabling the student to tackle difficult
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Question: Hello Albert,
Often bringing out or emphasizing particular notes within a chord is required, as in e.g. Schubert’s Moment Musical, Op. 94 (D.780), No. 2, where the higher notes of the right hand octave chords have to be phrased.
Especially in octave chords or 4-note chords this can be
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Question: Hello,
Have you any tips on developing a non-legato touch when playing, for example, Mozart’s C major Sonata K. 545? I can only manage a very uneven and rather slow staccato.
I am 59 years old. Is it possible to make further progress at my age?
– Richard (France)
Albert’s reply: It...
Question: Is it imperative that you study a piece until you memorize it before moving to another piece?
Example: In my books that I am working from I will study a piece until I can play it well by reading from the page then I move to the next piece.
But, when I go back to play the piece again af
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Question: I have been playing piano since childhood. I am a mediocre jazz player, strong harmonically, but weak technically. I don’t play classical music. Though the years I have practiced scales and exercises such as Hanon, without any positive results. A few years ago I took some lessons from a
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Question: Dear Albert,
The seems a pretty dumb question, but it’s one of my major problems playing the piano: How do I play piano, without losing security? When I try to play very soft (mostly accompaniments in the left hand) I sometimes don’t press some keys hard enough and these notes are missi
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Question: I have problems with fast, scale-like, semi-quaver (16th notes) passages, which are typical in Mozart sonatas for example. I can’t control them at a fast speed. I have issues with evenness of tone as well. Do you have any advice on how to practice them? Thank you.
– Rafael (Poland)
A...
Question: Mr. Frantz,
I’d like to start by mentioning how impressed I am with your website. It is extremely informative and comprehensive.
My question pertains to correct octave technique. Some people have advocated using only the wrist, while others have insisted that use of the forearm is nece
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Question: Hello. I too am a late beginner – started just before I turned 18. So far I have managed to play Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca and some other easy pieces. But the thing I really worry about is my hand span. It only covers an octave and since I’m already 18, my hands won’t grow anymore. I hav
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