Arch Failing And Not Grasping, But Stressing The Tendons.

Hello! I've just recived the DVD, and after viewing it I am happy with my purchase. I am a self taught pianist, going by the information I can find. But because of this I encounter some difficulties, and its sometimes hard to figure out on my own. When I play keys I use the movement showed in 0:16:50 in the movie, and NOT the grasping motion showed thereafter. How do I solve this? I also have trouble finding The arch structure. (This could be related to abovementioned problem.) Could I just have a weird hand? My pinkyfinger is short compared to a other hands. When I feel Ive found The Arch, I notice my wrist is held high and is quite tense. Could this be related to bench height? I have not figured out the proper bench height. I also tried to find a good way to approach the techniques on the DVD, do you suggest doing it cronologically or just practicing what I want? Pianorse. EDIT 2: Sorry for editing, but I'm getting closer to the issue 'at hand' and I make it easier to understand my problem.

Thanks for your post, nice to have you on board! Remember, the key word is SKELETALITY. Thus if you are not using one movement but using another, it might work for you (see my recent post on Olga Kern in the Piano Master category). Also read recent posts concerning the strange situation where the hand abandons its arch on purpose but somehow becomes more skeletal. Find a way to line up your bones so you feel comfortable standing on the piano. For this I do recommend trying out the chapter 1 & 2 exercises first. But yes, feel free to jump around in the film. You have to try things out, feel what makes you get more comfortable and powerful, and which things may just screw you up worse than before for the moment. Each person's voyage of development is different. Learn to stand first and then slowly to walk... Eventually you will run, but don't put the cart before the horse! AFF

Thank you for answering. I have increased my bench height some, and its started to feel better. The thing I am focusing on is getting the arch going and that skeletal power! Sometimes in my class I'll start doing the passive exercises and some of my fellow students look at me with a questioning eye. I want to ask - are you familiar with Gyroscope Powerballs? If not here is video about it: To get the grasp of it you only need to see the first 1-2 minutes. They definatly strengthen the arm, and are all for the grasping motion. What do you think? I have also tried doing the three-point-intervention on myself, but Im not sure it has the same effect. Is it doable on yourself or do you need someone else to do it with you?

Ah, those questioning eyes... I remember many bus rides in Montreal where people would actually move away from me because of the weird things I was doing with my hands... That Powerball looks fascinating - I am tempted! But I think I am developing the same kind of strength by demanding certain things of my hand on key. And I like this way better because I am clear that I won't gain as much by sheer strength development as I will by really feeling the that this strength must be employed in manifesting. The Powerball looks like it is not just strength development but function development - look at all those supple wrist movements etc. It reminds me of the Chinese balls that I occasionally still use - you know, the pair of large balls that you must rotate in your hand without letting them touch... As for the three-point intervention, when I made that clip with Maya for the film I thought there was no way to do it on oneself, but now I find with a little ingenuity it is possible to develop a solo variant. I won't try to explain it here, you go and try it yourself. AFF