A pianist
There is a relation from height compared to keyboard and fingers length ?
I think that where fingers are lenght, position must be lower then keyboard and to the contrary for short fingers.
What is your opinion about it?
Relation height from keyboard and fingers length ?
Technique and methods
9 posts
Started 18 Jan 2017
A pianist
I see the logic in it, yes. However, as I have always said, the more ways we can do something, the more capable we are. I have fairly long fingers and have spent several years sitting high and many more years sitting low. It was all a part of learning how my hands work - in the end the learning was reflexive, by sensation.
A pianist
This is, for me, an other explanation of no-standard play mode of Horowitz or Guld.
There is a relation from that very long fingers (and body) and that very low position.
There are many other example of pianists that play low or, to the contrary, high in relation of fingers and body high.
For me in general this is more a rule then an exception to the rule.
There is a relation, in general.
In the video I see you play sitting low, for me that is your ideal position.
In addition I think that body position connect with hand position, is more confortable, more natural.
I wish speak about this opinion but my English is not good.
A pianist
Two of many other examples:
Kemal GeKic (low position)
Jorge Luis Prats (high position)
Alanfraserpiano
Actually I never really thought of it in terms of finger length. To me it's always been low or high position or medium no matter what the length of the fingers... Sitting high tends to give you a smaller, more percussive sound, but certain types of fast passagework tend to be easier. Maybe shorter-fingered pianists sit higher because they can get away with it - or maybe, like you say, it is actually easier for them up there...
But I know in my work with students I have often taken even short-fingered ones to a lower height with great success...
AFF
A pianist
I had similar thoughts but just saw this video from amazing Nobuyuki Tsuji .He was born blind yet he was the winner of international Van Cliburn piano competition of 2009.
I think that many times i used my vision not correct.Having the head looking down was a big strain for me.By trying to keep my head aligned and not looking down,and by having a healthy posture without looking at the keyboard fred my arms a bit.I think that hands move faster than they eyes,and we should not prohibit our speed with the use of our eyes.I think no matter how high or low we should never slouch and never sit too high.It's a new way to play without eyes,it's not so easy but i think it produced nicer and more controlled sound.By not having to look i had time to move my hands and arms a lot!
After seeing him play,really i understood that there must be something else out there.We actually have no need for vision if we can train our muscular memory.
It is very touching to see the end....A pianist that can play so well and can't see to walk and some girl comes and escorts him when he finishes.
What do you have to say about him?
Alanfraserpiano
He's pretty good, although I think the jury gave him extra points for doing it blind. From a purely musical point of view it's a solid La Campanella but nothing spectacular.
But the interesting thing for me is that, although he's blind, he still spends most of his time with his head bowed as if he were looking at the keyboard. This corresponds with what I've discovered about listening: with your head in that position you hear more of the piano.
And of course it is so valuable to practice without looking at the keys. You learn so much more, the hands become so much more sure, and again, you hear things differently.
But Horowitz as in so many things serves as the example. Although it is not necessary for him to look at the keys, he does most of the time anyway. Better safe than sorry!
AFF
A pianist
That’s incredibile !
How much ways there are of playing piano.
I never finishes surprising me.
This is a wonderful way of playing piano:
There is maximum concentration, maximum attention to the sound.
They say that muscular memory is most insecure, but for me this is the most natural memory, I wish play the piano using only this memory.
Alanfraserpiano
You're absolutely right, the muscle memory is the most dependable... I might not play using ONLY that memory but yes it is one of the prime factors...
AFF
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