Scales 2: How to avoid “thumb under” - Synchronization of shoulders-arms-hands

Watch also ► • Scales 1: Practicing a... ► Help: aw4piano.info
► More clarification BELOW THE INDEX. I also quote two most useful comments.
::::::::: ▼::::::: INDEX ::::::: ▼:::::::::
● How Does It Work? - 0:13
Don’t articulate excessively - 0:34
Don’t play a strict legato - 0:51
How to avoid the “Thumb Under”? - 1:10
Lifting the elbow - 2:10
Your thumb must be active - 2:54
● How to Practice? - 3:08
Synchronization of vertical and horizontal
movements - 3:29
Imagine that you open the zipper - 4:17 / 4:47
● Exercises - 5:16
► I can help you to solve any pianistic or musical problem.
aw4piano.info/e...
► You must be aware that the expression “avoid thumb under” does not mean that the thumb should be still or stiff and never cross the other fingers. It means that, when playing scales or runs, the thumb should gradually approach its next position and the point is that you MUST NOT PLAY LEGATO between the thumb and 3rd or 4th fingers. Instead, your hand should make a very little and inaudible horizontal leap when changing the horizontal position on the keyboard.
► Comment by Rudel23 (from 2018.12.19):
«I was a very good friend of Gyorgy Sandor, and this is exactly the technique he wanted and used for " thumb passage"».
► Comment by Uriah Peep (from 2018.11.26):
«You are actually (right-hand example) pushing the right hand up the keyboard imperceptibly at the point SO THAT the thumb will take over the next series of keys and LANDS ON the next key coming up by this hand motion. This little movement takes away the "thumb under" to a hand motion upward so that the thumb is doing a much less "under" movement than before. I came to this concept naturally in my practice by merely keeping the hand in a straight line (perpendicular to the keyboard). And as you say, it makes for economic use of hand motion thereby reducing the energy output.»

[@JesusisKing913]

Im mind-blown right now, literally ,I have been playing piano for 12 years. Just finish doing this technique, just amazed at the results!!!! No piano teacher has ever shown me this, a thousand thanks!! Subscribed

[@sdnikko8960]

Me too. Try playing Chopin Op. 10 No. 8 legato. I had to practice 5 hours a day and then the teacher said, why are you moving your hand so much? She had rubber fingers, including her thumb. It was very disheartening and piano then became an avocation.

[@Kinjutsuu]

@@sdnikko8960 op 10/8 strict legato? Hello there tendinitis!

[@lukas8271]

Do you have any tipps to learn this technique ?

[@Sousaalb]

This is one of the most instructive piano lesson I have ever seen at youtube. Infinite thank you and congratulations for being so good teacher.

[@aw4piano]

Thank you :)

[@dnglbry1]

wow Aleksander your CLEAR explanation of hand/arm positioning and of movement PATTERN motion literally and instantly improved my speed and sound tone!!!!! YOU SIR ARE A GREAT TEACHER ! I THANK YOU FOR FREELY GIVING OF YOUR VAST KNOWLEDGE!!Blessings to you and yours my friend.

[@nicholas5160]

Man, youtube recommended this one to me, now this is my favorite channel.

[@Unknown-yz9pw]

recived some info about this technique and how it is way better than thumb under. Searched it up and found this gem of a video. I’m so impressed. As a 16 year old aspiring piano expert, i’m adamant on finding the right techniques from the ones that are being tought in videos!

[@wedfeb]

Showing what not to do (anti-patterns) is incredibly helpful. Well done!

[@djehutymes]

You have brilliant ideas, which you are able to explain in a very concise and illuminating manner. Many thanks for sharing!

[@MarioDConti]

Thank you for uploading this video. I went through the same training when I was 5.This is the absolute essential to start playing piano properly, the real and only way to attain excellence

[@ancientsolar]

I played these techniques for about an hour.. and it really helped me! The shoulder movement helped me find stability .. it became like a metronome of evenness that combined with the hand rotation .. made it almost effortless to play .. which is what I need. It not only worked for scales but for Mozart too.. it helped me put in expression while playing fast passages smoothly.

[@Fred.pSonic]

03:37 As the greenest of green beginners I thank you for explaining--and showing--the synchronization of vertical and horizontal movements. This helped me understand how the hands and arms move as viewed from a different spatial perspective, in a sense where everything should be slotted in. Immensely helpful, thank you.

[@musicalsoul810]

Sir you have came to rescue us aspirants with improper guidance. Many many thanks.

[@aw4piano]

Welcome :)

[@musicalsoul810]

Do you have a fixed duration structured program? How to enroll? How much are the fees?

[@aw4piano]

All information aw4piano.info/en/info1/06/b#fees For more details, please, write to me directly aw4piano.info/en/contact

[@carmelotorre1232]

La migliore spiegazione che abbia mai visto, ma ci vuole pratica e pratica. Complimenti per il video!!!

[@aw4piano]

grazie mille :)

[@Rudel23]

I was a very good friend of Gyorgy Sandor, and this is exactly the technique he wanted and used for " thumb passage"

[@aw4piano]

Thank you for this interesting comment.

[@uriahpeep9036]

I fully understand what you are doing when you say "avoid thumb under".......but your explanation is substandard in terms of English precision......and this is precisely why many cannot fathom what you are trying to say. What you are actually doing is very simple. You are actually (right-hand example) pushing the right hand up the keyboard imperceptibly at the point SO THAT the thumb will take over the next series of keys and LANDS ON the next key coming up by this hand motion. This little movement takes away the "thumb under" to a hand motion upward so that the thumb is doing a much less "under" movement than before. I came to this concept naturally in my practice by merely keeping the hand in a straight line (perpendicular to the keyboard). And as you say, it makes for economic use of hand motion thereby reducing the energy output.

[@akf2000]

Yes, Peep, you've explained it better.

[@Unknown-yz9pw]

recieved some info about how thumb over is way better than thumb under. searched up how to do it and found this gem!👏🏾

[@gbg3663]

I've logged in just to comment this: WOW. you are a freaking MONSTER. instant improvement. instant subscription.

[@namegoesfirstthenlastname1785]

Man, I really love this channel. Always all the info well explained and straight to the point. This is helping me with university.

[@10stephenrose]

This is all very useful to think about. Thank you

[@bluepearl4806]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! So important knowledge so beautifuly so brilliantly explained!!! You are wonderful!!!

[@adnanbarakat9301]

My handsome teacher ... You give us a lot of knowledge ... You have a pure heart and a spirit of beauty Thank you Aleksander woronickie

[@jm2656]

Thank you are a great teacher! have never encountered a piano teacher that teaches the very foundation of techniques and how to build them. You've given reason for every movement.. I love learning and playing the piano even more now that I have found your channel. Thank you for all the videos of how to play the piano better. I will definitely be looking forward for more of these videos. Thank you for sharing your gift and talent in all your videos❤️🙇🏻‍♀️🙏

[@salajazz]

Dear master, this is really awesome, thx for sharing it with us. Murillo

[@aw4piano]

Welcome, Murillo, see you soon!

[@arthouston7361]

I am a low level beginner (now working on playing the scales hands-together...yes...THAT much ch of a beginner!) and after reading some of the comments below, here is my perspective: yes, the thumb CAN appear to make an "under" movement," but only inasmuch as you are "preparing" your thumb position AS you move the entire arm-wrist-finger group, so that when the entire party arrives at the time and place for the note to be struck, the thumb is already placed to perform its task. I see this as being different from shifting the bulk of responsibility to the thumb alone, which is where the problems arise. Instead of being a desired singular thumb movement, it is a complimentary and coordinated "set" of movements, happening all during a few moments of time, as a part of the overall "flow" that produces smoothness and grace. It reminds me very much of when I had reached the commercial level of flying an aircraft. Instead of making numerous, isolated control inputs to the flight yoke (or stick) and rudder pedals, mastery of the aircraft dictated a seamless, interactive, and yes, imperceptible synchrony of small corrections that result in the aircraft being an extension of my mind. This, from all that I have seen from great players over the years, is the result of a refined and masterful technique.

[@aw4piano]

Thanks for your comment. I would add a detail that I did not mention in this video: when playing with your thumb, you must slightly relax its upper joint. This will increase the shock absorption and you will avoid undesirable accents this way.

[@MrTaiese]

Very nice, I’ve had the concept of shifting of the hand so your thumb doesn’t get fatigued but never actually put it to action i might try it out

[@aw4piano]

Complete with abduction / adduction kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmbRkHSLmsdpl5Y

[@MattMcConaha]

So basically in order to not do "thumb under" you still must make your thumb go under your other fingers, but it's just done in a slightly different way. Great.

[@aw4piano]

Exactly. “The devil is in the details”!

[@SinanAkkoyun]

@@aw4piano :)

[@proverbalizer]

I've heard of "thumb over" and it makes me question what type of abnormal hand physiology even makes such a thing possible

[@miscellanyman263]

Tee-hee-hee. Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude’s left-hand figure in C minor is a great example of cross-thumb woes haha 😳

[@Assassunn]

@@proverbalizer "thumb over" isn't an accurate name, but it has pedagogy advantage. At some point, in ascending scales, with the "thumb over" technique your thumb is above other fingers due to the hand (wrist) rotation and the hand jump

[@DrRaghavanRPanicker]

Namasthe Sir,A very good tutorial.It is appreciated.Namasthe.🙏

[@AzuliManni]

_This_ is a piano tutorial. Thank you!

[@breakfastboi6755]

I am grateful to you sir for your tips. Now I can play scales much faster than I used to do😁.

[@webmaster21]

Podczas nauki "dla Elizy", najszybszej części utworu, tak sobie przemęczyłem nadgarstek, że przez tydzień nie dotykałem pianina. Doszedłem do wniosku, że prędzej czy później zrobię sobie coś z ręką. Tak oto znalazłem się tutaj. Pozdrawiam :)

[@AleksanderWoronicki4piano]

Niech Pan uważa na ścięgna. Nigdy nie należy forsować. Polecam kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXebl62onbNjj9U

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

So not "don't put your thumb under" but "don't think about the thumb going under - think about the circular movements throughout your whole arm continuing on a linear plane, and the thumb will do what it should." Cool.

[@sserdar415]

Thanks, that was very helpful.

[@davidmela776]

PUREMENT génial quelle TALENT 👍👍👍👍🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌je ne comprend pas la langue mais pas besoin 👍👍👍abonner de suite ,RESPECT à vous👏👏👏 vraiment quelle classe et quelle leçon 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@valerievigil9175]

Thank you for posting this!

[@aw4piano]

:)

[@a3production277]

, the most smooth scales i've ever heard in my life i'm trying to learn it right now, by the i wish you do riffs or runs tutorial good job

[@AleksanderWoronicki4piano]

The same rules for any run, but mixed rotations

[@miriaaguiar]

Thanks for the lesson And explanation. Its precious. I coudn t understand everything cause it s english languague, but i ll translate which word to learn better. Thank You!!! I Love It.

[@aw4piano]

Welcome :)

[@alexven92]

Many thanks for sharing

[@wizardz7938]

2:00 thumb is going under now im all confused

[@jeffvair62]

There is always a little tucking of the thumb when doing that type of lateral movement, but the wrist leads the thumb when you do it right so as to minimize the thumb tucking under--a fifty percent reduction in that tucking movement equals a fifty percent Increase in speed and smoothness.

[@オモムロ]

对于自学钢琴的朋友真是雪中送炭！thank you so much！

[@splet6240]

you should get a high fps camera for those recordings :) like 60 frames per second. that will greatly improve the quality of your slow motion examples. thx man, even though i'm still an utter noob this gives me insight in the right way to do it. before i started without a teacher on my own.. was 5 months underway and decided that i wanted a teacher. and now i have to "unlearn" it all again haha.

[@VincentBuonora]

It looks like the hand/forearm glide to the right in the air which puts the thumb right over the key-thus no need to tuck. Great video Thanks-beginner adult❤

[@aw4piano]

But you can’t keep your thumb still! I’m preparing another video, more precise. In the meantime, please read the description area.

[@costasyiannourakos6963]

Yes that's the right piano technique.!

[@hear-and-know]

Thank you!!!

[@ilMusicistaClassico]

Grande didatta! Grazie Maestro

[@modernmozart813]

Excellent! Thanks!

[@jakklovediablo6293]

This is fantastic. I struggle when play the fast scale this method help me really good but i dont know why when i play i cant make it evenness sometime feel like note stick together and sound of the note feel cut off

[@aw4piano]

Play lightly, with fingertips - Point 5.3 aw4piano.info/en/th/05 and make a bridge - aw4piano.info/en/th/02

[@jakklovediablo6293]

thank you teacher i just look in to the content . i’m not quite get it but content explain quite good

[@JoelAWeiss]

I've seen this video a bunch, and always think - I've got it. Then I go to the piano and I still have the flying chicken elbow. \

[@musicwithmatt6531]

Thank you so much this is a huge help to me!

[@MrInterestingthings]

Hope I can figure all that out. 8n scalar work don't move arm much but if complete pattern repeats maybe . I willneed to find againanother teacher. Always this problem teachers who really teach. Russian woman heard me play Mozart sonata several times then one day FINALLY she tells me thumb is sticking out in Alberti left hand. After25 years someone tells me this!

[@11kwright]

Yeah but for a beginner it would be nice to know how to apply this to scales that have sharps in them, example B Major!

[@michellechang8958]

Thank you! brilliant!

[@aw4piano]

► If you have any doubts, please, see more clarification ABOVE, in Descriptions zone (below the INDEX). I also quote two most useful comments.

[@aw4piano]

@Gergely Endrédi:)

[@danieleoduro3829]

Subscribed

[@southpark5555]

Nice video. I see now ------ so crossing the thumb under either the 3rd or 4th finger is not great. So the aim is to cross under the index finger instead ....... a nice improvement.

[@aw4piano]

The aim is to prepare gradually the next thumb position (but still without playing legato!) instead of keeping it motionlessly. I am just writing a new article for my students dealing with 3D movements in scales. Maybe this will lead to a third video about scales? :)

[@1deleau]

Brilliant!

[@MrBratbody]

This is what I'm really looking for, but can I mention that therer's still thumb under? I can see it apparently at about 1:38 -1:39 half speed. It seems to me that your thumb is going under the other fingers while movin up or down. I am just wondering what is the difference between thumb under and yours?

[@aw4piano]

Well, you can’t keep any finger either still or stiff when playing :) When playing scales, the thumb should gradually approach its next position, but you shouldn’t play LEGATO between 1 and 3 or 4. Instead, you have to jump in an inaudible way. This makes scales fast and brilliant.

[@MrBratbody]

Thanks for your inspiring answer. What I have to do is jump in an inaudible way, not play legato.

[@kimbella66]

@@MrBratbody LOL!!! well said; the explanation is even more perplexing than the initial statement.

[@darkgod5555]

You are correct, and the key to playing EXTREMELY fast is to have NO thumb under. To see what I mean, check out the performance of a very quick Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1. The thumb glides only up-and-down NEVER left or right. It almost appears as if it's sliding off the keyboard when played in slow-motion. This is the key to playing at virtuosic speeds.

[@rdean150]

@@darkgod5555 So you dont need to tuck the thumb because your whole hand is moving so fast, your thumb will be directly over key when you need to hit it anyway? This kinda feels like a chicken vs egg problem. We should disregard techniques that are taught to help you get your speed up and focus instead on techniques that require your speed to already be up.

[@KalpaHettiarachchi]

Great performance

[@allexchen1678]

tq so much Sir

[@thegreenpianist7683]

I would like to ask you a question Mr.Woronicki, what exactly do you mean by "think about extremities only and play more and more smoothly"? This video was really insightful.

[@aw4piano]

First, I explained that each scale is composed of 3+4 notes sections and what to do to play them correctly. If you’ve understood, forget it and think of the whole, smooth scale ONLY, from the very first to the very last note.

[@thegreenpianist7683]

Aleksander Woronicki oh I see now, I misinterpreted that, no wonder I was tightening up, thank you so much I have never thought about this before

[@aw4piano]

welcome :)

[@cowardfightercoleniwatsi4491]

First of all thank you for the lesson sir. Im 35 yrs old and just starting to play the piano. I fell in love to sound of it. Can you give some ideas on how to improved my playing. And where to start? Thank you

[@aw4piano]

Thank you :) First of all send me this form, please aw4piano.info/en/info1/06/c

[@macpaul]

That makes e-flat much easier.

[@judyrunnion6406]

Excellent method of teaching with common sense and visual aids! My question is about your two exercises...why does the sheet music show note C, for right hand, show numbers 1 AND 2 and same goes for note E showing numbers 3 AND 1? I understand the numbers indicate which fingers, but TWO numbers for ONE note is throwing me off here.

[@judyrunnion6406]

Actually I meant your first exercise in my previous post. In your second exercise, it shows one part in Treble staff numbers 3 and 1....do you mean to alternate middle and thumb back a short while before moving up to higher notes? That would feel a bit awkward for me.

[@aw4piano]

You mean the ex. 2/16? These are trills :)

[@judyrunnion6406]

Oh, trills. I had to google on trills after your reply. I've never played trills yet. Ex. 3/16 are trills also? :/

[@aw4piano]

Well, everything’s written. You should learn more theory, I think.

[@rmsoft]

really good, thaks.

[@aw4piano]

Welcome :)

[@Aleredes]

Awesome!

[@jeanbrownpiano5861]

Piano Tips by Jean likes this video

[@RanBlakePiano]

Exciting

[@106_putridianshafira7]

Thank you so muccccchhhh 💜

[@aw4piano]

Welcommme :))

[@ARISTO_Music]

in both hands always when i play the middle finger and the one between it and the pinky , so my pinky automaticly strechs up without me even doing it im trying to make my self stop doing it on purpose and i just cant its like it has its own mind...

[@subplantant]

It definitely doesn't have its own mind and you can control its movements but finding the levers is not easy

[@snacklepussPSN]

+BassFreak RE: Pinky and middle fingers: You may have a habit of drinking from a cup or glass with a 3 finger to thumb clasp which releases the pinky to almost full extension? OR You may have a broken bone from our youth: I had this issue where my pinky was self raised - self gesturing so I put a small elastic band on it and the adjacent finger and played a lot with the emphasis on that as much as I could until I reset the brain to finger unnatural gesturing: Now I own my entire hand to finger gestures: BTW I did this for guitar as well as there was a little hesitance on the pinky when string plucking: A broken set of knuckles and metacarpals cannot stop me; so I doubt small noticeable finger gestures will stop anyone: Hope this helps someone:

[@wizardz7938]

Yea watch on basically pause lol.. no clue whats going on except for turning my limb in circle with elbows in

[@snacklepussPSN]

TIP: In order to articulate correctly, one must first articulate excessively, and while doing so, examine each press/lift with a close view, initially.... While practicing a three finger beat/rhythm using my left 513, 412, I always accompany it with a three fingered right hand rhythm 142 or 132 at the same time. Syncopation... Also, Emphasis on the middle rhythm note chains a loop.

[@Assassunn]

yes I think this is a good way to teach new students with the french technique (called "jeu perlé", fingers are very curved, agitated as little hammers), this is the Saint-Saëns, Alfred Cortot and Marguerite Long technique. It will help to develop that synapses/nervous connections then later the student will learn to accurately play with kinda of straight fingers, so he can play fast passages effortlessly. Obviously the "french technique" is oldschool and not very taught anymore, everyone know you should use the whole body.

[@muhammeteminkocak1698]

Hi how to play cortot rational principles of pianoforte technique?

[@townnet]

Hi, have you make video about improve scale evenness before?

[@aw4piano]

No, but you have many general elements here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXebl62onbNjj9U

[@martinvalt9788]

No " Thumb Under" = No Scales!

[@Assassunn]

Fantastic, thank you so much. Do you agree that the best technique is the one that both doesn't slow you down at fast tempo AND makes the feeling of the keys resistance the highest accurate ? So to summarize your video, I know I'm doing it ok if the gap is inaudible at fast tempo and the run is effortless/without muscular tension in the thumb ?

[@aw4piano]

>Do you agree that the best technique is the one that both doesn't slow you down at fast tempo AND makes the feeling of the keys resistance the highest accurate ? -*- You can put it that way. For me, the best technique is the one that involves the whole body - every little part of it in the right proportion. This way the work is evenly distributed and no muscles are overcharged. >So to summarize your video, I know I'm doing it ok if the gap is inaudible at fast tempo -*- Yes. >and the run is effortless -*- Remember that effortlessness is an ILLUSION. I feel like playing effortlessly, but I’m doing some work nonetheless, sometimes quite hard. >/without muscular tension in the thumb ? -*- The same: the thumb has to do its work too, so you can’t leave it without any muscular tension. It shouldn’t be stiff, but NOT INERT. Good luck!

[@diegolavia5112]

Genio!!

[@surfinia2]

Thank you Mr. Woronicki! But how to correct a sticking out pinkie?

[@aw4piano]

You are welcome. Play Brahms ex. 7 & 17. First very slowly, then increase the tempo gradually kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2iod2igapd6irc

[@pianoforte17xx48]

That was an amazing video. Do you have anything about Chopin's etude op. 25 no. 2? I've been suffering from it for 2 years. I need some desperate advice

[@strawberry1225]

What am I doing here ?, i dont even have a piano

[@realraven2000]

Get one! You can get a nice weighted Electronic Piano for a couple hundred. (I recommend Kawai)

[@strawberry1225]

Realraven2000 ohh Kawai this sound good Thank you

[@bethsabath]

Jajajaja hahaha kakakaka laughing in 3 languages

[@bobby9847]

@@bethsabath xaxaxa

[@tepacookmuzic4372]

Hahahaha just admit this lesson is spectacular that you are lost. 😂😂😂😂

[@barbbrunk2882]

Chromatic scale without thumbs?

[@eliezeraquinosilva9887]

I liked

[@cwise7]

Wow.....my technique is horrible....I’m giving this a try

[@llllll115]

thank you v ery much! this video has improved my overall scale performance And a total new approach on scaly passages If possible, can you upload a video about how to play double 3rds please? :)

[@llllll115]

*very

[@aw4piano]

It's planned - the video is ready, but I need time edit it. All the best to you :)

[@llllll115]

+Aleksander Woronicki I appreciate it !

[@paxwallacejazz]

Just like Monk

[@OpalBerries]

Isn't it then impossible for the hands to be in sync with the motion? If I play a scale with my right hand, and restart the motion as I move my thumb under, Wouldn't my left hand still be in middle of the motion because it is mirrored? And by imperceptible, do you mean the movements are so refined, or that it's literally impossible to see - in which case who's to say it's even rotating at all at that point?

[@gorgolyt]

> makes a tutorial about how to avoid putting your thumb under > puts his thumb under

[@aw4piano]

Read the text Description CAREFULLY, please.

[@jckhammer]

*makes a post about pointing out someones stupidity * ends up pointing out ones own stupidity

[@vikasuploader]

Thank you sir. Is it alright and a good practice to use 'thumb under' on slow passages and play real legato ? Or should we totally avoid thumb under at all tempos and use only your approach. Could you kindly do a video where you show how to play slow and expressive legato scale?

[@aw4piano]

Avoiding the thumb under applies to fast tempo.

[@vikasuploader]

@@aw4piano thank you very much Sir.

[@muribmor]

The correct use of forearm rotation, the walking arm, in and out movements and shaping taughted by Dorothy Taubman makes the 'thumb under' totally unnecessary in piano playing...

[@pauloing1pauloing167]

00:15 click here to start the video

[@pianisthemant]

In Lang Lang's piano lessons.. He lifted fingers too high..

[@philipq6906]

You lift up finger for practice but put it down for real play.

[@tjatadaus6544]

But you cant play waterfall without thumb-under

[@kanecanedy623]

Can someone explain what he meant by “You must not play real legato between thumb and 3rd and 4th Instead your hand should make an inaudible jump when changing position on the keyboard.” The only jump i see is when he ends the scale. Am I missing something. ? From what I understand from that I think he’s saying that instead of playing legato between the thumb and 3/4 fingers you do a small jump? :( Im so confused and clearly not smart.

[@michaelgreen9312]

When you play legato, you play the next key before removing your finger from the previous one. So, he is saying your 3rd finger should not still be on the key when your thumb hits the next note.

[@krzemian]

OK, so poco legato is clear to me. However, two concerns come to mind: 1. Around 1:36, it is unclear to me whether you're actually sliding with your 3rd finger between G and A, playing both with the same finger, before starting again with the thumb? 2. Would you say it's more efficient to bend the thumb at the proximal or distal phalangeal joint? Thank you again :)

[@rogercarroll2551]

Certainly looks to me like thumber under with forearm rotation.

[@juwonnnnn]

👏

[@DynamicMateTV]

Mate... the price you pay is the notes aren’t legato especially because you disconnect at the point when you DONT use thumb under

[@aw4piano]

I don’t pay anything. Nobody plays the fast runs with a strict legato. Listen carefully to the greatest pianists - their “legato” is just a perfectly made illusion.

[@MG-ti9bl]

is this the same thing as the thumb over technique? I've no idea if the creator is still around but if someone could clarify that for me, I'd be very appreciative.

[@SheltonSEmmaS]

not exactly, it's more of a modified thumb under. full on thumb over is extremely unreliable - if one is taught full on thumb over from the beginning stages and tries to become a virtuoso, it's usually only a matter of time before they injure themselves trying to have a 100% success rate of playing the right notes in a smooth way, because thumb over requires far more upkeep. This is because in thumb over, the brain is not ahead of the fingers thus physical relaxation is impossible. the the only way to ensure success is to repeat over and over again, which of course is where the injuries come from. see; Yundi Li, and it will happen to Daniil Trifonov as well. Martha Argerich practices 30 minutes a day, and can play quickly and effortlessly while focusing on musical content, because she was born with virtuosity AND was taught either traditional or "modified" thumb under first (either is fine but modified can be picked up if one learns regular thumb under first.) if thumb over is learned through the first few years of playing, you will never be able to play as effortlessly as Martha or Hamelin or Alicia de Larrocha, Claudio Arrau, Steven Drury or Gyogry Cziffra, period, you will be a budget Trifonov at best and that's if you're extreeeemely lucky and fine with having to lock yourself in a hole and practice 12 hours a day to keep up any repertoire like he so obviously does.

[@kpunkt.klaviermusik]

If you do not have to play legato you can of course avoid "thumbs under". It all depends on how you want the music to sound like. Personally I need "thumbs under" a lot.

[@aw4piano]

When playing fast as well?

[@kpunkt.klaviermusik]

@@aw4piano Where ever it's needed to play legato and it's possible: of course. How do you play Schubert Impromptu op.90 No.2 ?

[@aw4piano]

@@kpunkt.klaviermusik You underestimate the importance of sound illusion, I am afraid. It is not important what you do with your fingers, but what the listener hears. As for a conductor: it is not the most important how HE hears the orchestra, but how the audience BEHIND HIM perceives it. A strict physical legato is unnecessary and does not always sound good at a high speed (it may not be transparent enough). That is why the intermediate articulations were invented: poco legato, poco staccato, pearled playing... Sure, it should be adapted to the music style, but also to the instrument and to the concert hall acoustics. And if you want to play really very fast, the thumb under will mechanically disturb you.

[@kpunkt.klaviermusik]

@@aw4piano Listening to several recordings of Schuberts Impromptu op.90/2 on youtube, I can clearly hear, who is playing perfectly legato (Svj.Richter and Serena Galli) and who does not even try to play legato.

[@cathetel21]

4:17 But how does that not hurt? I can't do that

[@aw4piano]

Angle of the nail and the point 5.3 here - aw4piano.info/en/th/05

[@rmg8729]

I've been playing for 10 years but didnt understand this video :(

[@mrsbucky1]

I feel much better now! I'm a newbie and I'm completely confused! But, basically, I think I'm supposed to move my hand fast while having my thumb play without tucking it under is what I gather from this.

[@Mrmmm88]

But the thumb still passed under the hand

[@aw4piano]

I pinned my answer to MrBratbodyil

[@ohsoleohmio]

when you say “think of the extremeties only” do you mean the finger tips and the shoulder ? the ends of the bridge ?

[@aw4piano]

No, extremities of the scale. When playing slowly, you can divide it into sections 3+4 (for exercise) When playing faster, you can think 7+7. When playing fast, think about the whole, even scale.

[@JesusisKing913]

will this help with jazz; playing at fast tempo?

[@aw4piano]

Sure, but start slowly and increase the tempo gradually.