Queen's Day 2006

One thing that is always on my mind is the relation between fast finger technique and the help of the interroseus and lumbricals, forearm and the assist each muscle group offers in piano playing. Could the fast finger passages (many examples in the piano literature) where a very fast speed is needed, to be changed in our mind in that way that instead of using the forearm -(forearm contractions)- to use the lumbricals and the interosseus more?So we could try to contract those small muscles?. Example if we have a very fast passage with the following fingering on the right hand 124124542142142 instead of doing a strong forearm contraction could we just practice the appropriate muscle contractions in the palm that assist in the movement of those specific fingers?. Please note that i am not suggesting to practice them on piano doing this but when we are away from the piano to try to do those contractions and try to contract those specific muscles there. It is much more difficult to do that and i found out that many of us do not have very good control of those small muscles in the palm and we have problems to activate them alone without activating forearm muscles too. I have been doing this for 2-3 months now and although it is very difficult to seperate the work of the muscle groups, in the end i noticed a very nice speed increase in the execution of fast passages and noticed fewer forearm contractions and less fatigue and better wrist function. However i am still puzzled wether this is a correct method to practice fast passages as most of my old teachers and proffesors look at me puzzled when i suggest something like this. Any advice or similar ideas ? Best regards

After a long search for better ways to play, I think YES, these intrinsic handmuscles are essential for a complete technique. Recently, I even began to notice the fleshy'bulbuous' look of the hands of great mature pianists. Just look at the hands of Alan Fraser, Hamelin, Libetta, etc. And also: As these muscles get bigger, the metarcarpals get 'spread-out' which in turn facilitates a greater reach! This may not be the key to everything, but it's very important.

Hurrah that you are so much on the right track! So many people look askance at this focus on the actual muscles within the hand and finger: there is SUCH a huge fear of tension and injury. We are still to a large extent suffering from the overly stronng backlash against the finger action school (See my Arm Weight Debate with Raymond Banning on my website). But that finger work is SO ESSENTIAL! And it seems you are approaching it wisely, not overly stressing those parts of the hand (which could well lead to injury), but developing them in a sensible and necessary way. BRAVO!