Octaves for small hands and 10ths/11ths for large hands. Don't make this common mistake!

I show why raising the wrist really doesn't help small hands, even though it's an extremely common habit. If anything, this is the hallmark of a hand that has some extra size to spare, but which isn't working ideally. A couple of simple tips and practical exercises will ensure you can maximise your potential, without falling into the most common traps.
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[@cziffra1980]

This is Cziffra using an abnormally high wrist for power, in a very short passage (right at the end). kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWrMYaehfal_iNUsi=e0-pV9Lb1R4KBPzP This is Wael Farouk, with a truly small hand. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWXVqauQmdmAeZYsi=Z0ETCT3idiqroMSj Also, there are quite a lot of videos out there in which smaller handed pianists give good advice. However, be warned that there are also smaller handed players who make the common mistakes I show, some of whom will then actively recommend their own bad habits to others. I once saw a Facebook post in which someone commented to say that the trick for smaller hands is to ensure that the fingers are curved, to play further back into the keys and to raise the wrist and collapse the knuckles. Literally every point simply described a common mistake that only hinders. Every point was the square opposite of something that would help. Finally, those with large hands should pay as much attention to these issues as those with smaller ones- even for the basic octaves. Having a bigger hand only makes it more likely you can get away with collapsing the knuckles and raising the wrist very high, without losing accuracy. However, it can still be a needlessly strenuous way to play, if you don't learn to play from a simpler wrist alignment and a stable hand arch.

[@e.de_Haan]

I had to change my octave technique to be more like this. I was playing farther into the key area to make moving to black keys easier. The tension i did not notice in my small hands until trying to play lots of octaves in "papillons" by R. Schumann. I took me a little while to feel comfortable not mimicking large handed pianists technique. I notice most pianists do octaves(+) a certain way, and i felt i should do the same.

[@cziffra1980]

That's an interesting point. Certainly, for myself, I do like to keep the in and out movements very small between white and black keys. That means I'd be far further forward for finger 5 in octaves than I show for those 10ths. However, if this just isn't realistic then the in and out motions may have to be larger. It's shame that there aren't other videos with a consistently good view of Farouk's hands as I'd like to see what he does in longer octave passages. The one I link in the comment shows just how small his hands genuinely are but doesn't really give any sense of how he deals with this particular issue.

[@c05.63]

i can do the 11th but i struggle a little with it still, ill try this.

[@cziffra1980]

If it's borderline, the opening exercise against the side of the keys may well be enough to make the difference. It's something that can sometimes notably loosen the muscles in one sitting, but also something that makes a gradual difference when used regularly in moderation. That said, the chord I show from Franck is literally the only one I can think of where I've considered striking an 11th and I find it more musical to roll it there anyway for a swell (although it's useful to be able to hold the chord all at once for a pedal change). Arguably, 10ths can be very useful but useful 11th are so rare as to be more of a personal curiosity than a notably big benefit.

[@kzeich]

It's not worth hurting yourself

[@cziffra1980]

Who would advise hurting yourself? The point of the video is to identify what is truly dangerous, not to encourage forcing on through. For those who have genuinely small hands, it's literally either give up piano entirely, force your way on through at risk of injury or find a more optimal technique that works with safety. Tenths and elevenths can be rolled and adapted, for any hand size, but there's no way for anyone to go above a basic standard without getting a safe approach to octaves.