Chopin’ touch technique is extra powerful. I’ve been concentrating on using it during my piano practice for over a year. It brought a lot of mastery and confidence to my performances, since every touch was coordinated to my thoughts. Also it became easier to express passion without losing control over my hands. If the fingers touch the keys, less energy it’ll take to push them. It means that a pianist can play mostly without straining his own arms, finger tendons will do all the work. Efficiently. Since tendons are much stronger than muscles and they’ll never hurt or be damaged. So pushing is more effective than lifting a finger and touching the key. The only problem will be learning this whole new approach after you’ve been playing for years otherwise. But when “Chopin’ touch” gets comfortable and habitual, it becomes clear that there never was a better method.
What are your thoughts on forearm rotation (pronation and supination) in scales, as taught by the Taubman school? edit: I see you responded to this question from another commenter. The Chopin etudes seem to demand a technique far more complex than the one you've covered so far. I hope you will eventually adress the etudes in future lectures. Great work so far.
Hello Bjorn. Thanks for asking! Indeed, when taking the Ètudes as a reference, we are just beginning to cover piano technique. However, this doesn't change the order of the fundamentals. The fingers begin the action and every other movement is a consequence. This ordering is frequently misunderstood and substituted for forearm rotations as simultaneous or main drivers of the action. They are a consequence just as the movements of the hips are a consequence of walking.
Very helpful but as chopin said. Thumb is super important in scales arpeggios etc. I wish we could have another video just for thumb about passing under over shifting etc. Thank you!
20th Century pianists, and specially today's, tend to adjust their technique and their movements to communicate with a watching audience in large theatres. Unfortunately, most of them get injured at some point in their career. Best!
😂😂. A battle is raging between the pro-and contra rotationalists. Imo, there is always some invisible suppination support when playing with the 5th finger which transforms into invisible pronation support when passing over to the 1st or 2nd finger. This happens automatically and unconsciously I think. Maybe the word rotation leads to misunderstanding and should be changed into invisible suppination/pronation support?
Hello! Perhaps the main breakthrough in Chopin's technique is his calling that the finger should be the trigger of all action. From a modern science point of view, this also makes sense. The finger is a 100-150 grams appendix commanded by very fast intrinsic muscles in the hand. On the contrary, initiating movement with other body parts comes with more mass and the use of bulky and/or slower muscles. Of concern, finger may underdevelop speed, proper articulation and control. Thank you for commenting.
Indeed! There is supination (ulnar) support when playing F5 as well as pronation (radial) support when playing F1. An important consideration here is that support occurs at the bottom of the key. The initial action of flexing a finger from its MCP articulation is the responsibility of intrinsic muscles in the hand. Thanks for commenting!
@@thechopinmethod7257 Am I correct for assuming that pronation and supination should follow the placement of a finger in order to provide support and eliminate tension?
Claudio, I have a question: how do I do fast octave scales and fast and fortissimo chords in songs like Rachmaninoff or Prokofiev concertos without straining? Can you explain? Could you also explain about the sound quality and phrasing?
Hello Leone. Thanks for sharing your questions. Fast octave technique is an on-going technical discussion, and the proper answer depends on more than one factor. Chopin recognized that fast octaves should be played from the wrist, but always maintaing the quality of sound. In my translation, that says that fast octaves should be learned slowly while using finger technique. Now, please consider that Chopin's music and XX Century piano technique may differ in substancial ways. Even as early as 1870s piano compositions considered a stronger and more spectacular concert piano, one that requires the mass of the arms to cuase the expected effects. On behalf of Chopin, I can certainly say that modern physiology and biomecanics corroborate his concepts. The finger is by far the most refined human structure in delivering physical endurance as well as sounds and moods at the keyboard. CS.
I had a question: When playing, should the fingers rest touching the piano keys, or should they be lifted slightly above the piano keys, or something else?
Hello and thank you for your important question. The fingers should indeed be positioned touching and sensing the surface of the target key. Even forte and virtuoso passages should be learned with this in mind. There are major advantages: finger positioning sensing, key positioning, finger stand-by neural stage, finger intention planning. All this brings sound control and the unsurpassable satisfaction of moment creation.
What about the fingers that are not being used to play any notes the piano for a specific portion of the piece? For example, in the first 4 bars of Rondo alla turca by Mozart, Finger 5 in right hand is not used. So should Finger 5 still rest on the piano keys or not? Also, thank you for your response.
Yes, finger 5 should rest touching and sensing the surface of the keys, even if dragged laterally. The special curvature of the 5th finger must be observed.
Hello Claudio, would you mind if I were to upload clips of your videos in shortform so more people can come across this information? I will credit you in the title + link your channel in the comments and description.
Hello. The channel is about to launch a series of shorts to help pianists while they practice. Managing this content is a delicate matter when dealing with repetitions and injuries. Thanks anyways for your offer.
Liszt préconisait de jouer haut pour moins avoir besoin de lever les doigts et donc économiser de la fatigue … Gould par contre était assis très bas… Où est la vérité ??
Babe wake up, new chopin method video dropped 🗣️🗣️
🔥🔥🔥
Hell yeah 🔥🔥💯☝🏻
😂😂
Can someone explain this meme i don't get it
@AlexanderRomero-mo9dg its so important that he needs to wake up his partner
I come from guitar playing but i just love learning about the hidden gold nuggets of the Musical Greats. Chopin is one of the GOATs in my opinion.
Thank you for your comment and for your input in some posts! Best regards.
Yaaaaaay, new Chopin method video 🎉🎉🎉
Chopin’ touch technique is extra powerful. I’ve been concentrating on using it during my piano practice for over a year. It brought a lot of mastery and confidence to my performances, since every touch was coordinated to my thoughts. Also it became easier to express passion without losing control over my hands. If the fingers touch the keys, less energy it’ll take to push them. It means that a pianist can play mostly without straining his own arms, finger tendons will do all the work. Efficiently. Since tendons are much stronger than muscles and they’ll never hurt or be damaged. So pushing is more effective than lifting a finger and touching the key. The only problem will be learning this whole new approach after you’ve been playing for years otherwise. But when “Chopin’ touch” gets comfortable and habitual, it becomes clear that there never was a better method.
Thank you very much for your comment!
Thank you very much for sharing this method! It flipped my entire life as a pianist.
man, i'm turning into a "well mannered individual" because of how he explains stuff
:)
Woahh! New video 🤩 thank you so much for your knowledge and dedication. The way you explain and the tone of your voice are like cherry on top!
This helps a lot to improve pianoplaying👍🏻
That is so delightful to hear. Thank you.
This is gold
Thank you!
tremendo video!!! cada dia aprendo mas gracias a ustedes
Muchas gracias. Saludos.
Thank you,
What are your thoughts on forearm rotation (pronation and supination) in scales, as taught by the Taubman school? edit: I see you responded to this question from another commenter.
The Chopin etudes seem to demand a technique far more complex than the one you've covered so far. I hope you will eventually adress the etudes in future lectures. Great work so far.
Hello Bjorn. Thanks for asking! Indeed, when taking the Ètudes as a reference, we are just beginning to cover piano technique. However, this doesn't change the order of the fundamentals. The fingers begin the action and every other movement is a consequence. This ordering is frequently misunderstood and substituted for forearm rotations as simultaneous or main drivers of the action. They are a consequence just as the movements of the hips are a consequence of walking.
This improved my technique a lot so far, hope to see even more videos
That is good to hear! Thanks!
Very helpful but as chopin said. Thumb is super important in scales arpeggios etc. I wish we could have another video just for thumb about passing under over shifting etc.
Thank you!
Noted! We do intend to do so.
Magnifica delucidazione della corretta struttura fisiologica da assumere, di grande aiuto per novizi come me, complimenti
Grazie mille!
Muy bien explicado. ❤❤❤
Gracias!
Gracias
Gracias a Ud.
👏 obrigado
Why was Sviatoslav Richter sitting high in his late years? From your point of analysis.
He was able to produce quality sound.
20th Century pianists, and specially today's, tend to adjust their technique and their movements to communicate with a watching audience in large theatres. Unfortunately, most of them get injured at some point in their career. Best!
@@thechopinmethod7257 Honestly an unexpected answer. But thank you for that.
🔥🔥🔥I heard him!!!
The late Dorothy Taubman currently rotating in her grave while Edna Golandsky does the sign of the cross repeatedly...
😂😂. A battle is raging between the pro-and contra rotationalists. Imo, there is always some invisible suppination support when playing with the 5th finger which transforms into invisible pronation support when passing over to the 1st or 2nd finger. This happens automatically and unconsciously I think. Maybe the word rotation leads to misunderstanding and should be changed into invisible suppination/pronation support?
Hello! Perhaps the main breakthrough in Chopin's technique is his calling that the finger should be the trigger of all action. From a modern science point of view, this also makes sense. The finger is a 100-150 grams appendix commanded by very fast intrinsic muscles in the hand. On the contrary, initiating movement with other body parts comes with more mass and the use of bulky and/or slower muscles. Of concern, finger may underdevelop speed, proper articulation and control. Thank you for commenting.
Indeed! There is supination (ulnar) support when playing F5 as well as pronation (radial) support when playing F1. An important consideration here is that support occurs at the bottom of the key. The initial action of flexing a finger from its MCP articulation is the responsibility of intrinsic muscles in the hand. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for the extra information! Yes good that you mention that this ulnar and radial support it takes place at the bottom of the key.
@@thechopinmethod7257 Am I correct for assuming that pronation and supination should follow the placement of a finger in order to provide support and eliminate tension?
Rất tuyệt
Claudio, I have a question: how do I do fast octave scales and fast and fortissimo chords in songs like Rachmaninoff or Prokofiev concertos without straining? Can you explain?
Could you also explain about the sound quality and phrasing?
Hello Leone. Thanks for sharing your questions. Fast octave technique is an on-going technical discussion, and the proper answer depends on more than one factor. Chopin recognized that fast octaves should be played from the wrist, but always maintaing the quality of sound. In my translation, that says that fast octaves should be learned slowly while using finger technique.
Now, please consider that Chopin's music and XX Century piano technique may differ in substancial ways. Even as early as 1870s piano compositions considered a stronger and more spectacular concert piano, one that requires the mass of the arms to cuase the expected effects.
On behalf of Chopin, I can certainly say that modern physiology and biomecanics corroborate his concepts. The finger is by far the most refined human structure in delivering physical endurance as well as sounds and moods at the keyboard. CS.
@@thechopinmethod7257Thank you for your reply! Congratulations on your beautiful work!
I had a question: When playing, should the fingers rest touching the piano keys, or should they be lifted slightly above the piano keys, or something else?
Hello and thank you for your important question. The fingers should indeed be positioned touching and sensing the surface of the target key. Even forte and virtuoso passages should be learned with this in mind. There are major advantages: finger positioning sensing, key positioning, finger stand-by neural stage, finger intention planning. All this brings sound control and the unsurpassable satisfaction of moment creation.
What about the fingers that are not being used to play any notes the piano for a specific portion of the piece? For example, in the first 4 bars of Rondo alla turca by Mozart, Finger 5 in right hand is not used. So should Finger 5 still rest on the piano keys or not? Also, thank you for your response.
Yes, finger 5 should rest touching and sensing the surface of the keys, even if dragged laterally. The special curvature of the 5th finger must be observed.
Can I also ask you about whether or not chopin encouraged training finger independence or not where, and why? Also, thanks for your response.
Hello Claudio, would you mind if I were to upload clips of your videos in shortform so more people can come across this information? I will credit you in the title + link your channel in the comments and description.
Hello. The channel is about to launch a series of shorts to help pianists while they practice. Managing this content is a delicate matter when dealing with repetitions and injuries. Thanks anyways for your offer.
@@thechopinmethod7257 Amazing! Good luck on your shorts, I hope to see this channel grow exponentially.
Yeah
Sup
Yes
Liszt préconisait de jouer haut pour moins avoir besoin de lever les doigts et donc économiser de la fatigue …
Gould par contre était assis très bas…
Où est la vérité ??
Gould was in a lot of pain throughout his career