Rapid Repeated OCTAVES - Tips & Strategies For Speed And Reducing Tension

[@DeanHorak]

This is where a grand piano becomes a desirable alternative to an upright.

[@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972]

How so?

[@DeanHorak]

@@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972 , Grand pianos have a different kind of action from uprights. Uprights rely on a spring to return the hammer back to a position where it can strike the string again, whereas grand pianos rely on gravity. The result is that keys on a grand piano can repeat much faster than uprights.

[@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972]

@@DeanHorak wow, thank you for telling me this!

[@alanclarkeau]

Not necessarily - the piano needs to be well regulated. A poorly regulated grand (sadly too many) is not likely to be as good as a good upright. When buying a grand 10yrs ago I played almost 100 - and most were "well tuned" - but that's as much preparation as it was given. Repetition and the ability to play soft were sadly poor.

[@juanferrequetglas4444]

A thing that helps me A LOT on fortissimo octaves is raising my elbows slightly during the octaves, like trying to do the motion from those. It gives me an amazing speed.

[@igorvaluev5409]

Thank you so much for always giving advice on how to practice smart and reduce tension instead of just mindlessly trying as hard as you can, which I used to do for years. Because of your channel and your courses I'm finally making progress, and this is the most exciting thing in the world! :)

[@joshwrightpiano]

So happy to hear that Igor! Best of luck in your continued studies :)

[@antoniovisioli4460]

Gentile Maestro, la ringrazio per i suoi preziosissimi consigli e per la sua eccezionale educazione. Lei è un musicista, un docente, un musicista e un uomo eccezionale! Cordialmente.

[@artsymusician8041]

You have no idea how helpful this video was to me. I'm preparing for my most intense competition season, and there's a piece that's been whooping me pretty bad, this fixed almost all of it.

[@JoasRadiomann]

I played the bumblebee (Cziffra's arrangement) back when I was a teen and although I had a poor technique and tense playing my young articulations could handle the temporary pain. Now I would love to retry it the proper way without tension. Thanks for your help! Really needed it!

[@vincentvega568]

Super useful. Appreciate your attitude about showing struggle.

[@kathleentrued9359]

Clear and beautifully illustrated. Thanks so much👍😊

[@Mondelfe]

The three angles are awesome. I get a much better feeling for what you do, don‘t know why. Goes more directly to the body to see it from different angles. Thanks for the video, I get so tight while playing repeated octaves, it really hurts. Will definitely try your advices.

[@janed5113]

Thanks so much for your videos & your humility. Your sharing of all your knowledge for Free on KZbin (!) is admirable & so so appreciated. There really is such a difference between being a good player vs a good teacher - I have only watched a few of your videos for specific techniques I have trouble with and your tips are so helpful & detailed!! Just want to say Thank You 🙏, & I’ll see what I can purchase soon ☺️

[@pennytimmerman6880]

Really appreciate your knowledge and also suggestions for kindness and respect.

[@yovow7839]

When I played Funerailles and Chopin's op.53 polonaise, I found that playing the repeated left hand octaves was made a lot easier by raising my elbow, completely relaxing my wrist and getting the whole motion by moving my forearm up and then letting gravity do the work (my hand kinda looked like Argerich's when she played Funerailles), they are the only pieces that i have found the technique useful though, with the Hungarian rhapsody 6 I've found it easier to just stick to the normal technique.

[@cpt.2944]

I'm practicing Liszt-paganini etude no. 6 and this was pretty well timed. I've already watched your other videos on the same topic. Do you have any tips on how to practice the double thirds in var. 6? I'm guessing the 2-4 fingering all the way through is the most preferred.

[@boomertamizhan1186]

I too practicing tat same piece !!!

[@joshwrightpiano]

Yes, I use the 2-4 fingering in that passage. I have a full tutorial ProPractice on this piece

[@jjuuaannii1]

You are so humble!!! Thank you very much. Actually seeing you struggle is quite hopeful!

[@jaideepganguli7645]

Great tips, excellent explanation and useful!! Thank you for making the video and sharing

[@audreybeals9609]

love the multiple camera angles! was just watching an older video and was thinking, " i wish he would show that from another angle" lol

[@bhh1988]

Great tips and stories! Would love to hear that student’s performance of Erlkonig!

[@jazzloopjazz]

Great tips, as always, and enjoying the multiple angles! I know you already talked about octaves for small hands, but I would welcome some more thoughts on the subject, whenever possible. Personally, I find it very difficult to relax in long parallel octave passages, and to keep a strong and stable 5th finger in that extended position (I can reach a 9th at most).

[@larrymeier9902]

Yes. Octaves for small hands. Great video Josh!

[@dustinpowell6507]

I actually came from Elizabeth Schumann’s performance of the Schubert piece. Gotta learn how to do that!

[@calypso8860]

Hi Josh, I've been learning Mozart's 40th symphony in g minor and I was wondering if you could do a tutorial or a commentary on the piece. You're a very skilled pianist, and your advice has helped a ton in the past but I was hoping you had some advice on this simple yet challenging piece. I find your videos very helpful and motivational and I would be very grateful if you could take the time and help a beginner out. Thank you for posting all this content and information it has helped me a ton when I first started out playing the piano, you're an amazing pianist and teacher.

[@petermallouche3993]

thank you for this also i like that we can have a bird view of the piano as well as the other angle

[@77sincere94]

Can you do a video on how to stretch fingers and make them longer and stronger please

[@joshwrightpiano]

I don’t know about making the fingers longer haha. But I do have a very old video about finger stretches on my channel that you can check out

[@77sincere94]

@@joshwrightpiano oh ok thank you so much God bless in Jesus Name Amen❤️🙏🏽

[@xdxsdd2502]

Thank you so much for this.

[@lada_bell]

Thank you , extremely useful !!!!!

[@chrisy367]

Could you do one covering broken octaves? Those 2 sections in the 2nd Liszt ballade are givinv me some trouble especially in the left hand, thank you so much!

[@thekeyoflifepiano]

Can you do some masterclass videos with your students?

[@pastichemusic3568]

By the Way, your circle movement for the raid repeated octaves helped me a lot I have learnt HR2, Erlkrnig from you thank you so much Could you create a vid on the La Campanella variations and tips on how to play I am currently struggling with that part

[@richardcasey4439]

Excellent instruction

[@mehrsahamidi2001]

Thank you 🌻

[@stephenn77]

Josh, is your intro from a Classical piece?

[@TimothéeRichard-r6w]

Khatia Buniatishvili is the famous pianist? 🤔

[@lukasmiller486]

I’m working on the climatic section of Sposalizio and the left hand octaves are very difficult to play at a steady tempo. I’ll watch this when I have time.

[@cookie4u2]

What are the names of the other people you mention in relation to the fast octaves?

[@johnwade7430]

Hi JOsh - great video. Q: Can you do a video on Tuplets against regular time? I am struggling with the opening of Chopin’s 1st Op. 9 Nocturne in Bb minor. e.g bars 2-3 you have (Time Sig.) 6/4: 3 lots of 11:3 (R.h 11 1/8th notes over the Long .h 6 1/8th notes) I’ve listened to countless recordings of this piece but when it comes to playing my two hands together I have problems. Any advice? Thanks.

[@Asbiss]

I've been struggling with repeated notes (and dynamics). Can I just blame it on just not having a grand? :)

[@ghostemane3209]

can you do a video about Bach / Siloti Prelude in B minor

[@velcroman11]

Teaching is twice learning Josh.

[@harleyschwering7584]

Erwin;When you playmusic that requires many leaps on the key board do you keep your elbow at your side or move you elbow away from your body?

[@kessamefford]

I feel like I haven’t unlocked this yet. Where in the body does the impulse need to come from? I can’t figure out how to repeat it quickly without tightening my bicep/tricep.

[@SuperDieu_6666]

From the knuckles at 80% and the wrist 20% (at least that works for most of things I play), practicing regularly and seriously will make your knuckles stronger and therefore you’ll have more stamina

[@jjstennisgod]

I need help with this for the full speed of the end of hungarian rhapsody no 6

[@lukasmiller486]

15:20-16:00 My reaction to the This is Opera channel.

[@RolandHuettmann]

Maybe when one can imagine the tempo then the body will follow? I believe here the mind plays an important role. There are people playing an instrument with their feet toes because arms are missing. All is imagination and practice with correct instructions.

[@joshwrightpiano]

There is so much truth to this - we put limitations on ourselves and our potential

[@jakezepeda1267]

Guess I'll have to give up on ever playing a lot of songs. My hands are too small. Relaxed range is about 10 keys. I can hit an octave but have to stretch my hand to its extent and press into the corner of the key. Otherwise my stiff fingers hit adjacent keys.

[@thekeyoflifepiano]

Lang Lang has a history of injury. I wouldn't follow his technique despite the fact that he is a great performer. Also, his hands are much bigger than most people.

[@ChalumeauLOL]

I think he injured himself because of Ravel's left hand concerto

[@piano-topia9971]

Me who’s here to play rlly quick octaves while improving rock and bluse

[@benjamincollins8559]

Yes, I am one of those students that think I should not highlight my struggles.

[@MikeyGonGetGot]

Well at least I have an electric piano to practice on

[@77sincere94]

First 💯

[@sabrinachang6287]

I'm gonna try this try to play more Tchaikovsky🥲