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Hello everyone!

I am trying to learn a nice little piece that is full of staccato notes at faster speeds, with which I am struggling. The way I play staccato notes is mostly with my arm moving up and down. Naturally this is quite exhausting and with it is impossible to achieve high speeds, especially if you want to make the notes sound very short.

So I am looking for advice. I have found some suggestions on the net that one should flick his fingers and not moving his arm up and down to play rapid staccato scales. I haven't seen any videos of this and I can't figure out on my own how to do that effectively. So any help is greatly appreciated.

Lp, Rozina

It's more of a whiplike movement IMHO with the wrist participating and being conscious of relaxing fingers that are not in use.

I'm not sure exactly what I do but each finger acts almost explosively. Maybe there is some neuromuscular development that has to occur to build up the acceleration. The more the acceleration, the less the actual effort.

What I do know is that there's suppleness in the wrist to make it happen. The stiffer the arm the more effort it is.

Try playing from the surface of the keys. Jump off them like a diver springing up.

Try not moving your entire arm up and down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdfZ2xjveHc&feature=related

JAP, amazing how curled his fingers are.

Thanks for all the suggestions and the video. I am still not sure how to do it, but I have some additional ideas now

Imagine the keys are hot, so try to think to yourself you have just touched the hob on the oven, or you are walking on HOT sand!!!!! Keep your fingers curled and Quite low, don't jump too high, as you will struggle to keep the technique consistent.