Practice Project: Hand position review Good hand position is important for developing beautiful sound and clean rhythm. It also helps us to avoid using our hands and arms incorrectly, which can cause damage. Leon Fleisher, pianist and teacher at Peabody Conservatory, says that as pianists we should think of ourselves as "athletes of the small muscl...

We all agree that the best solution to problems is to prevent them before they even begin. However, even with our best intentions, problems sometimes arise. Collapsed knuckle bridge Teacher places hands on the student's hands, molding, shaping, and modeling.Start beginning students with a cluster.Descriptive language: "feel the cave," "What could f...

When hands are hanging loosely at the sides of the body, the fingers are in a "natural curve," which is a perfect hand position. The finger are not extended but in their natural, relaxed state (see Example 1). (Natural curve varies from person to person.) ​ Try This: Extend your fingers straight, and keep them there (see Example 2). Within a few se...

Dear reader,  Back in the spring of 1989 Richard Chronister asked me to become the first Associate Editor for Technique of a new publication with a focus on piano study from beginning through intermediate levels. Thus began my association with KEYBOARD COMPANION. I think Richard asked me to assist him because he knew of my great interest ...