Piano Technique (23 of 38): Patterns You Gotta Know

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[javacisnotrecognized]

I have a question about another patter also; it would be like if you played a 6th with 1-5, and then you played a third in the middle with 2-4. Do you know about this? There is a video of Richter playing the Schumann toccata on Youtube somewhere, where there is a pattern like this, and he seems to raise his wrist to play the inner notes, and lower it to play the outer notes, if that makes sense ..

[pianoologist]

An interesting pattern indeed... much like the last section in the Entertainer, which I play in the Coda of the video series.

F&D are played with 1&4 and low wrist, alternating with C#&E played with 2&3 and high wrist. This results from the full understanding of "Ethel", coupled with all the other principles sprinkled around the video.

[pianoologist]

Thanks a bunch for chiming in... I know exactly what "side to side motion" you are referring to and absolutely agree with your assessment. The "side to side motion" is critical to freedom and ease, especially as the distance between the notes in the tremolo get wider and wider apart! This is also consistent with the piano-ology notion of not "reaching" for notes with outstretched fingers. Cheers, Frank

[CBasie2856]

What about trills? You forgot about trills!

[pianoologist]

Thanks for the feedback, Count! We see how this might seem to be an oversight. Realize that trills and tremolos are just special cases of reversals. Each requires a different mix of two integrated motions: finger articulation & forearm rotation. While both motions play an important role, my experience is that tremolos (being wider) require more forearm rotation and less finger articulation while trills (being on adjacent notes) require less forearm rotation and more finger articulation.....

[pianoologist]

What is your experience with trills and tremolos?

BTW, if there was sufficient interest, we were thinking of posting a series of vids on more advanced techniques, including this special case. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Frank from piano-ology

[soho2014]

Sadly my confidence level on piano is almost zero, but I'm working on it.

[dalk5432]

I am so blessed to have found your videos. hahaha. I've watched it from the first to this and it really helped me not only for playing the piano but also for much of the activities in day to day life. thanks so much!

[ShelliMachiavelli]

I am thrilled to have found your videos thank you soooooo much, i find these super helpful as im teaching myself to play again. Legend. namaste.

[iranwong297]

wow i like this so much! thanks!

[adollar4u]

Mad mad mad - thank you

[javacisnotrecognized]

Some experience I've had with trills/tremolos is that using only forearm rotation for an extend length of time makes my forearm burn, even when it feels relaxed. I've found, however that using a kind of side to side motion of the upper arm produces a similiar effect without any pain. Upper arm motion also seems to incorperate Ethel automatically. I don't know if it's the same for anyone else, but that was my own experience on the matter!