Grade 4 milestone and other problems

I think this has something to do with the thing that Andrew stressed here. Now the problem is how can these "subconsciously pushing actions" be removed? Through your approach, Alan, or through Andrew's? I noticed that my left hand seems to be the most problematic. The right hand floats quite good now, though I'm not satisfied with the arm alignment. The problems in my left hand have something to do with the elbow. I actually feel how much tension builds here while beginning a practice session with a hanon drill played at a low tempo. The elbow joint generates a downward pressure which the wrist tries to compensate by raising and preventing it to get all the way to the hand and fingers. Much work needs to be done somewhere here regarding the stage I'm being at. Anyway, it's much better than before having lessons with you. In those days the wrist locked and the whole healthy playing mechanism got screwed up.

If you are doing good lumbrical activation and you still have the kind of problem you describe, then it's time to shift yourself up to "Level II" where your hand is balanced in unstable equilibrium, more like a hawk floating just above the keys than an arch standing stably. This will allow your fingers to move even more maximally (if they are given the command from your brain) because they are now free from the constraints of their structure. Remember, we I) need to learn the sense of arch stability and potency by standing on it, pulling up into it, and then II) need to let go of the stability, to float above it, to increase the potency still further. Potency = capacity for powerful movement. In one of the Levels higher than I & II, the ear becomes the primary agent of perception, in another there is a perfect synthesis of I & II. But you have to be adept at both levels before you can make the synthesis. Actually there is still another preliminary level where you really press to create your tone, like the Russians. I might call it level III but am not sure yet where exactly to place it in my pianistic cosmology... Please let me know if this helps, I am really interested to see if we can resolve this at a distance. AFF

Regarding this 2 stage method I would like to know which drill from the Craft of Piano Playing DVD creates this "hawk" feeling? Before trying it I must tell you, Alan, one important thing I discovered today while practicing on the desk. Besides not being able to remain in a neutral action state, the elbow of my left hand seems to be uncertain about pushing the arm down or trying to raise it. This uncertainty is dependent upon the finger that is playing. I haven't succeeded to obtain a certain map yet but I certainly feel that when I play 1,2,3,4,5 on the table, the elbow either pushes the arm down either prevents it to supply the hand with the so much needed arm weight. This is why I am feeling tension in the elbow while playing. At certain moments I could even feel (and see) my left biceps contracting.

Try forming a "bird beak" around the problematic finger - work really hard to hold the fingers together to create a very firm structure. Then roll your hand on the table forward and backward, letting your wrist move up and down. Feel how the structure of the hand is very firm while the arm and wrist are passive and free to follow the finger. If you still find that your arm is trying to interfere (for example, if you raise your shoulder) then let your arm completely drop to the floor and raise it with the other hand. When I do it on the table it feels like my entire arm is hanging like a rope between the knuckle of the finger and the shoulder blade. Regarding this 2 stage method I would like to know which drill from the Craft of Piano Playing DVD creates this "hawk" feeling? I think the chapter on "more finger action in scales" covers some of it. The first few chapters of Alan's 2nd book cover it in much more details. I hope this helps. Zack

Thank you Zack for covering for me. If your replies get any better, people are going to start thinking that you are me with a pseudonym! All best, AFF