Can't Straighten Thumb

I have a problem that creates a problem for me from the very first exercise in Craft of Piano. I can't straighten my thumb. Under normal conditions, the most the proximal joint opens is 135 degrees. By using a lot of tension (and some pain) I can force it open to 180 degrees, but then I can't straighten the distal joint (which is maximally extended) and everything is locked in place with great muscular tension, so there is no hope of using that functionally. So I can't do the "standing on the wall" exercise or "thumb push-ups" exercise. I do understand the concept of skeletal support in the hand, and I can practice overhanging legato with at least a sense of greatly improving the situation. Perhaps I cannot approach what you (Alan) would consider full skeletal support, but I can certainly reach a place of great improvement. I'm studying piano as an "applied instrument" while pursuing a degree in composition, so I am not required to be a highly skilled pianist.

Update: First, when I say I'm not required to be a highly skilled pianist I don't mean to say I'm going to give up the idea that I could ever learn good skeletal support of the hand. I'm just saying there are some practical considerations. Second, I found out that if I use my other hand to gently bring the thumb into straightness first, I can stand on it without the joints collapsing! It actually helps it to straighten as I increase the pressure. (As long as I keep my shoulder/arm/hand properly organized.) As I release the pressure at some point it pops out of straightness and into the usual 135 degree angle. So I CAN give myself an experience of standing on it. I'm not sure how this will translate into use at the piano because I can't straighten it at the piano, but it's an interesting experience and perhaps an important learning experience. I have another question. My own teacher views the idea of "organization of the hand" not in those terms. I think she views it primarily in terms of strengthening and doing stretching exercises. I know that many teachers don't want their students to come to them and say, "Hey, I have a better idea than what you are teaching me." My teacher was assigned by the school, I have no choice, and I don't think they want to hear any objection. I need to stay "in line." It's a competitive school with demanding teachers. So I'm doing the exercises in CoPP without telling her. My question is: how common is this situation? How common is it for students to have no choice about their teacher, and then spend considerable effort looking for outside wisdom without telling their teacher? I'm pretty sure that as I make progress in CoPP she's going to think I'm doing well and I'm developing strength and flexibility. I don't forseee a problem, but it's not the most comfortable situation.

Hi Mike, I used to have a similar problem with my left hand thumb and like you I used my right hand to "help" the thumb straighten. It takes quite a while before you can integrate this to actual playing - I would say it took at least 3~4 month for me to teach the thumb to straighten while playing, and I still sometimes find it going back to a more collapsed "S" shaped. However, I don't think you need to worry about these things to much during actual playing. The thumb can support the hand even when it is not straight - it is still quite a powerful structure - more limited than the active straigh thumb (so you might not be able to play as fast or as loud with it as you would with a more developed thumb), but you can still use it to create a secure structure and a beautiful legato. Regarding your problem with your teacher - I can't comment on how common this is because I am only an amateur (so I get to choose my teacher), but still, I can share some of my experience. I don't always agree with the physical advice my teacher gives me. Still, instead of wasting my lesson time (for which I am paying) on arguing, I listen, try her suggestions a few times in the lesson, and then choose to practice what is right for me on my own. For example: I remember one time when she told me "don't lift the fingers too high" (a common suggestion by teachers, but opposite to Alan's advice) and she claimed that she could hear the choppy sound that it created, compared to playing with low fingers. So I tested her with eyes closed - I played the passage lifting the fingers as high as I could, and she stopped me on a specific note and said "there - that's where it's choppy". I realized that the issue was not lifting of the fingers, but the loss of legato when crossing with the thumb. So my teacher had a very valid MUSICAL feedback, except she didn't communicate it to me this way - she already assumed that the reason for this was lifting the fingers too high (because this is how she was taught to play). I am sure your teacher will have some very valid input and also some input that will be totally inappropriate for you. If you feel that she is not open to discussions, I suggest you just listen to what she says in the lesson, try to understand the MUSICAL reason for her comment, and try to find out yourself the underlying PHYSICAL improvement you need to do. Ask her to demonstrate to you the sound she is looking for and listen to the difference between your playing and hers - you don't have to immitate her physically to achieve similar sound - but it is important to get an idea of what you are aiming for. I hope this helps. Zack

thanks, Zack, that's some good info. My teacher happened to mention last lesson that I should never raise my fingers, because "everything should go with gravity." A bit of an oversimplified understanding of the anti-gravity reflexes in the body, I think. Ah well, I'll do my best. Mike

If she says everything should go with gravity, why don't you just tell her "What goes up must come down."? As for your first question, I was told once by someone in the know that 2/3 of Juilliard's piano students have an outside teacher on the sly because they are not happy with their prof at Juilliard. And I have a retired computer guy amateur pianist here in New York who has decided not to have lessons from anybody but simply to follow my books and DVD because he doesn't want to have to deal with the inevitable conflict between the teacher's and my point of view... Other than that I don't know how common this kind of thing is... Thanks Zack for your very illuminating account of your teacher's "blindfold test." I am impressed that she was open enough to take the test, this is already very fine! Also glad to hear Mike that you managed to resolve the thumb thing after posting your initial complaint. Nice work! All best, AFF

Yeah, that's impressive your teacher took a "blindfold test." I don't think mine wants to have her authority challenged in any way.