Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
"what would you give for one more inch?" ( no comment mam, no comment)
Hmmm, I was thinking maybe I could invent a special hand-stretching device for those with small hands, like say how Charles Hawtrey was in carry on henry, but just for the hands.
Rise like lions after slumber,in unvanquishable number. Shake your chains to earth like dew which in sleep has fallen on you. Ye are many,they are few. Shelley
"what would you give for one more inch?" ( no comment mam, no comment)
Hmmm, I was thinking maybe I could invent a special hand-stretching device for those with small hands, like say how Charles Hawtrey was in carry on henry, but just for the hands.
They seem to sell stretching devices all over the internet for a certian body part. I haven't seen any adverts for hand stretchers, though. You might make a fortune off gullible pianists.
They seem to sell stretching devices all over the internet for a certian body part. I haven't seen any adverts for hand stretchers, though. You might make a fortune off gullible pianists.
Octaves are easy and I can manage a ninth without trouble. As for a 10th, barely if I touch just the edge of the white keys, but I doubt I could play a 10th as part of a piece
With years of practice I have managed to stretch a full octave chord with little difficulty, but I doubt I will get much further than that. Although, who knows, might be that my technique is still lacking.
have you two with the hand pain stopped in to the teacher's forum. There really shouldn't be any pain. Soreness, perhaps, or fatigue, but not pain. Perhaps that is something that can be alleviated?
You are quite right Scotpgot, and actually I've been to the dr (so has Teodor).
My problem comes from a pre-piano condition that I didn't realize was the start of trigger finger - I thought there was something wrong with the bone/joint, and it never really bothered me, just "clicked" sometimes. When I started playing piano it got worse- and then I started to have pain in my forearms too.
The problem (on the piano side) was that while I understood the concept of what my teacher was telling me, I wasn't able to actually relax properly. When I realized that I was making things worse instead of improving we backed off dramatically - I basically stopped playing anything new (which made me tense!) and I have focused on technique /playing less, playing slowly and really getting a handle on what my teacher has been talking about since the start!
I'm doing MUCH MUCH better - have been doing massages and physio exercises, and parafin treatments for while now. Improvlements are significant, but I still have to be very careful not to over do things.
I didn't take your comment as "preachy" - just concerned kindness. Thanks.
18 ABF Recitals, Order of the Red Dot European Piano Parties - Brussels, Lisbon, Lucern, Milan, Malaga, St. Goar Themed recitals: Grieg and Great American Songbook
I used to be able to play a straight tenth on white keys. But months of playing Chopin Etude 10/1 stretched it further. I can now reach an eleventh (though barely). I don't have big hands. This is all stretch. My pinky and thumb stretch to a straight line.
Just because I was curious, I measured my hand span. My left hand from tip of thumb to tip of little finger is 9 1/4 " (close to Jazzwee, it almost goes to a straight line). My right hand span is 8 3/4" due to a dislocated thumb in college, it's just not going any further. I do do finger stretches - I think it helps. That and practicing playing 10ths with both hands. I have long fingers though.
I can reach 10ths with no problem at all. With my hand splayed out I can get to 10 1/4". I've got big mitts but maybe they're more limber than most because I can stretch my thumb and little finger so that they are in a straight line. I don't know if this is normal or not.
My hands are about 7", but I can stretch to about 8 and 1/4. I feel like I'm going to be able to stretch more eventually because when I started I could barely reach an octave, now I can reach a flat ninth comfortably. Maybe someday I'll be able to reach a ninth. I don't mind if I don't, though. My hands have gotten pretty mobile around the keys.
OOOH Sparky, how do we know that metal tape measure isn't folded and being held down by your palm?? LOL. Could this be Canadian "slight of hand" to gain an "extra inch"?
Sly Cat I accept your jammy dodgers, have you tried the new "toffee" dodgers yet? mmmm.
Wayne, very very funny. But would nan approve?
Rise like lions after slumber,in unvanquishable number. Shake your chains to earth like dew which in sleep has fallen on you. Ye are many,they are few. Shelley
They seem to sell stretching devices all over the internet for a certian body part. I haven't seen any adverts for hand stretchers, though. You might make a fortune off gullible pianists.
That is as funny as anything I've seen . . . and more than slightly disturbing.
They seem to sell stretching devices all over the internet for a certian body part. I haven't seen any adverts for hand stretchers, though. You might make a fortune off gullible pianists.