Improvements To The Book & Film?

I would like to know your thoughts about the following: what is missing for you in the book and the DVD? What needs to be addressed more fully, or in a different way? What hasn't been addressed at all that needs to be? If I were to do another film (or book), what would you like to see included in the material?

Hi Alan, In the DVD, by my own experiences with this Etude, I find your idea to apply rotation (the "Campanella-Variant" ) to Chopin Op 10/1 questionable. Although I think that to (the ascending arpeggios starting with the thumb on a black key.. maybe), I find that this Etude can not be conquered by rotation as a base-principle when full sonority and legato is to be produced. And if you really are convinced of rotation, a little more "evidence" should be given, especially for players with smaller hands than yours.

Hello 'Sparetime,' thanks for your question. Of course, rotation is not the 'prime' technical ingredient of Op. 10 #1, far from it! What I meant to say is that if you do all the other preparatory work and it still doesn't go, if you add just a pinch of rotation it might help things along. It is there, but invisible (as Matthay liked to say). It's a question of degree. That's why I am almost afraid to talk about it, because it is so open to misinterpretation and likely to be overdone at first, often causing more problems than it solves. But it is definitely there in many, not just a few passages - hidden! Try to find how it can help in virtually any leaping passage. As for people with small hands, you are not the first who has complained that rotation as I present it is not so easy when your hand is small, which shows that you didn't understand at all what I am getting at. The most "surface meaning" of rotation as I show it is to literally join notes legato that normally you cannot. But this is NOT WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! Of course, small-handed pianists can't join such big intervals legato by rotating, but for them the rotation action is ESPECIALLY useful for getting around a keyboard in a more agile and less stressful way! Look at the INTERNAL ACTION of rotation as I show it, not only one localized aspect of the external result! It's going to help you big time! So, it has been noted that a clarifying section on rotation is needed in the next film! Warm regards, AFF