I'm playing a Beethoven Sonata, and the left hand plays a chord of 3rds and the thumb plays another note, all which are 8th notes, I guess similar to what's in Mozart's Rondo in D Major. Problem is, my left hand sounds really *heavy*, and I'd like to soften it, my teacher would like it softened, but when I try doing the l.h. alone and try playing softly, it's either the 3rds, or the thumb aren't audible. I'd like to try and fix this problem if possible, so someone please respond!! Thanks!!

Julie

-- Julie (alwayznsync_2k@hotmail.com), April 01, 2001

Answers

Which sonata? What measures?

-- Julie2 (knerr@uiuc.edu), April 03, 2001.

Sonata 25 ~ that's all I know of which one! Hope that gives you some idea of which one I'm doing, ;) and the measures are.... 1-7, 46-59, 124-130, 169-180, and whatever the other measures are that deal w/those kind of notes. If you can find which Sonata I'm playing and look at the measures, please respond if you know of any tip on how to play them *easier*!! Thanks!!!

-- Julie (alwayznsync_2k@hotmail.com), April 03, 2001.

Hi,

Instead of pushing the keys, try to think of grabbing them, this is very difficult to explain in words. make your wrist very loose and then come down to the keys. While the tone is produced you should actually pull your hand towards the body. sorry my english is limited and that kind of motion is very difficult to explain anyway, but fortunately one of the greatest piano teachers in history has written the whole thing down: try to get "basic principles in piano practicing" by joseph levinne. that book is the bible of any pianist.

-- Andy works fine (amb7078@griffon.mwsc.edu), April 08, 2001.

Ok. I found it. Op. 79! This technique takes a bit of work to learn, but the good news is, once you have it, you've got it forever, for all pieces that deal with this!! From the problems you are having with this and with the trills, it appears that your rotation might not be working. Are you rotating your arm (like turning a doorknob) while you are playing this? It's a little tougher with these double notes. Does your arm get tired when you are playing an Alberti bass (like CGEG CGEG)? It's all a matter of finding the right amount of rotation so that your arm can work in combination with your fingers. 1. All fingers, no arm. This will make your arm really tired really fast. 2. All arm, no fingers. This will be messy because you are not using your fingers. 3. Arm and fingermotion balanced! This is the way to do it. You need to find the balance for your own arm and hand. It's hard to do over the internet.

I'd suggest 1. Practice slow with exaggerated rotation, making sure that you have a good sound on each chord/note. 2. Practice this passage in a dotted eighth sixteenth pattern, so you are stopping on all the 3rds. Play the 3rds really loud. 3. Reverse this pattern, so you are stopping on all the thumbs. 4. Try playing one measure (LH alone) really fast, then stopping on the downbeat of the next measure. 5. The faster you go, the smaller the rotation will be. 6. Also you can practice playing really light and on the "bump" of the keys. 7. Make sure you have a good hand shape at all times. 8. You could try leaving out one of the notes in the chord, then another note. This might make things easier, or it might make it harder when you put it all back together. I don't know. 9. Don't get frustrated. Just go slow, practice in little bits, and know that you will get it!!!!

-- Julie2 (knerr@uiuc.edu), April 09, 2001.

Hey! I have the exact same problem except I usually do it with every piece I play. My left hand is always much louder than my right. I've been playing piano for about 2 and a half years and that is probably one of my biggest difficulties. At the moment I am practicing a piece for a recital and I once again can't play my left hand lightly enough. The song is Rachmoninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

-- Samantha (Sammie732@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

The trick is to make the melody "sing". Play the melody slightly lounder than the accompaniment. The difference should be inaudible, but if you have experiecnce you should be able to pick it up. The should make up for the intensity of the bass tones...otherwise, you are playing it with incorrect touch or your piano needs repair. I tried the "singing" method and it turned out great.

-- Donnie Robinson (Dystord2@lycos.com), May 07, 2003.

There is a principle that I like to apply to what I call balance between the hands---One hand has melody, one the accompaniment. Usually, the r.h. has melody and the l.h. seems too loud.

I believe it requires a slightly different touch for each hand. The melody hand needs to be relaxed and that part should sing. The opposite hand needs what I like to call "controlled relaxation". I tell my students to keep the bridge of the hand strong (as if holding something like a yo-yo). It actually takes more muscle control to play softly than to play loud. For a young student (especially boys!) I tell them to make a monster claw for the hand that will play softly. This tends to give the needed control for balance between the parts---Absolutely essential for artistry in playing. Hope this helps!

This technique also works well when l.h. has melody and r.h. must be the softer of the two parts. Then, though, there is at times an extra problem of getting the l.h. to relax into the melody and be the "leader". Do try the strong bridge,relaxed control,for the softer of the two parts. As you can tell, I truly believe in this way of achieving balance.

Ruth C.

-- Ruth Farkas (satb88@sbcglobal.net), June 21, 2003.

Hey! I have been playing the piano all my life and i have had similar promblems. What my teacher has taught me to do is play your song like your going to do but dont play your left hand and just finger the notes.Still play your right hand as your going to just gently play your left hand without pressing on the keys. You might on accident push one of the keys but i have confidence in you. Good luck with your piano dreams.

-- Natalie Carleton (carletonkids@unnet.com), November 24, 2003.