Your video is incredible! Subtle in practise but so amazing! All the instruction I've had, all the slow Hanon and scales (10+ years now) and yet I'm still struggling with playing 'fast'. Assumed with my small hands I would never really have it. Yet after trying your suggestion, within 1 hour I couldn't believe how much faster / smoother I was playing...and more importantly how it was feeling so so different! It's almost like adding in the idea of a 'pre-load' to your finger, in addition to the better sense of finger independence. It's going to take a little bit of re-practising my normal routines to incorporate this...but worth it I'm sure. Will report back! Thx for sharing...watching from North Vancouver, Canada.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

That makes me happy that you found it useful! I look forward to hearing how it goes with other material. Happy practicing!

@darykinnaman2319

Жыл бұрын

I have huge hands and struggle in the same way. Some of the best piano players I know have small hands.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

@@darykinnaman2319 Does size really matter? I've heard Keith Jarrett had a huge hand span. My early teacher, Mary Field, had fairly small hands, but was a formidable bebopper! But in the end, it's all about our awareness, and using what we have to our best ability. Pianist/Harpsichordist Wanda Landowska had serious hand issues (Focal Dystonia), that distorted her fingers. Yet she is considered among the greatest in her field. Thanks for watching!

@mrdali67

Жыл бұрын

@@Dharmajazz Size does matter !! also when playing the Piano (pun intended)😉I have kinda big hands, chubby fingers but about avg. reach. can max reach the 13'th comfortable. Recently watched a video about how many Pianists would have a much easier time learning new pieces if you could get a custom made Piano with slightly narrower keys so we all could comfortable reach 14. Was kinda interesting with an interview with a guy that actually did make custom made Piano Keybeds in his business in his spare time.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

@@mrdali67 I did see an article about alternate scale (size) keyboards. Something about the "tyranny" of the modern pianoforte dimensions. But alas, we have what we have. Thanks for chiming in.

Also love that you said to turn off video if you already had the technique. Acknowledging a range of watchers and humility.

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Just trying to be respectful of other folks time. So much YT content now! Thanks for watching.

Thanks for sharing. Not all piano teachers are revealing this secrets. You're one of a kind! 👍👍👍. REAL teacher teaches technique! You're one of them!

@Dharmajazz

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words. My goal is simply to be helpful - glad you found some value in the video. Thanks for watching.

Being a beginner, I've found this to be tremendously helpful in building a strong foundation. So glad I found your channel, thank you!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure! You can't go wrong with solid fundamentals. It's surprising that so many players - even at more advanced levels - neglect cleaning up such fundamental skills. Congrats on your piano journey. Thanks for watching.

My DAD💔 bought me up as an embryo. Home was always filled with music. (I’ve never met a bigger fan, but he’s mates we’re all the same. My first gig l was 3yrs old, & Hearing DAVE BRUBECK. He taught me chopsticks on the stage! ( no people)! So, it ended up that EUGENE ‘the Senator’ WRIGHT is my Godfather. 🫢 Absolutely amazing upbringing. I miss you DAD 💔 But ‘UNC’is there. with you too!! ✨❤️🥰😘😘😘😘😘

I'm laughing, because that's me when I play a note, a pinky pops up lol. Your exactly right. I came here trying to learn to play fast scales with sharps and regular keys. This has been very helpful, thank you for the lesson. I'm sure all of us watching, appreciate your help🙏😀

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching - I'm glad to know you found it useful. Yeah, the "errant pinkie" syndrome. It's pretty common, but so easy to clean up. Let me know if there's another topic you'd like to see a post about. Happy practicing!

@mrswagg22music

Жыл бұрын

Me too now i can stop crying in a corner all nite🤣🤣🤣

It's so true about the tensions in the hands that slow down the movements. This is very similar to recreative tennis players. No matter how long they've played tennis, if the body is not relaxed it takes away part of the main source of power coming from the legs. I've thought about using this principle of playing tennis to apply to piano but didn't know how to. This video will be my bible. Thanks so much

@SteveSnelling

20 күн бұрын

Thanks for your comment, Tom. I've been pondering how the concept of "relaxation" can apply to so many areas of our lives. Good luck with your tennis skills! And thanks for watching.

Great exercise! Do you know Czeslaw Marek „Lehre des Klavierspiels „ (I don’t know if there is an english edition available). In chapter VIII he teaches the exercise in four movements. 1. lift up the finger 2. relax the muscles and let the finger drop on the key without pressing down 3. press down the key very slowly so that the piano doesn’t generates any sound 4. relax the muscles again but don’t lift the finger active, just let the key move it up. The hardest challenge here is 2. and 4. where you only have to relax the finger and not moving it actively. While doing so be careful to have all the other fingers resting relaxed on the keys. This will improve your control on every finger!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. I'm not familiar with Marek, but the concept is familiar. I'll look for his exercises. Thanks for the tip.

This is a great video and is such an important aspect of playing to look over. We should only have tension in our chords from time to time not our hands!!

Very good, well presented, clear. The art in teaching is inspiring a student to go give it a try that instant!

"I find that the trick of playing fast tempos or fast streams of notes with good time is to play very lightly with a feathery touch on the piano (or any instrument). It's also helpful to eliminate all "frantic" (extra) motions from the body as these detract from the flow." - Chick Corea

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Yep, Chic was not wrong. Sometimes though, we need to play very fast with a steely, hard tone when the music requires it. For that, it is helpful to train the hands/fingers to operate with relaxation and independence. That's the aim of this video. (The relaxation/independence, not the "steely" part.)

@UltraLeetJ

Жыл бұрын

yeh, also work on fav licks or fast runs or sequences and have them ready miliseconds before the changes they will be played over.. workout especially fingerings for them.

@csm-csm

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Could you provide a reference to the source of that quote? I want to check out the full version if possible

@saintbees2088

7 ай бұрын

@@csm-csm chapter 4 making time, being a musician, a work in progress.

This is very basic but imperative to teach from the beginning!! I’m super strict about that with my students 👍

What a great video!

This was exactly what I was looking for! I also play drums and guitar and it's very easy to forget concepts that help me play faster on them. They are all related to relaxing and having no tension. I subscribed and printed off your e book. Thanks so much for labeling all the fingering for the scales.

@SteveSnelling

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I was talking with two drummer/teacher friends about teaching/lessons and we all agreed: the best focus is on fundamentals! One of them shared about going to a lesson with some famous drummer (Peter Erskine or ?), expecting to get some inside 'Ninja' skills, but all they talked about was stick control! I show this exercise to even advanced pianists and many of them struggle with it at first. You can't go wrong with fundamentals.

Thanks for sharing!

diggin' the whole ambiance and smoothness of your teaching/technique style.. gnarly stuff dude..

@SteveSnelling

Ай бұрын

Thanks. I've always thought "gnarly" applies to Prokofiev and the real knuckle-buster stuff - Rachmaninov, etc - but I appreciate the thought. This particular exercise is surprisingly challenging though. Let me know if you any questions or comments about your piano journey, and thanks for watching.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I like the tone of your voice and the peaceful way you express everything. I really enjoyed it! These are apparently simple ideas, but very powerful to avoid bad habits. Keep it up! 😀

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed my video. Yes, "simple" is frequently the best approach. Thanks for watching.

This is exactly what my piano instructor teaches. Great job!

@SteveSnelling

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the affirmation - yeah, as I was shown, it's from a Russian Conservatory type approach. Powerful tools!

That’s perfect, thank you so much for this video

Excellent, thanks!

Fascinating! Thank you!

@Dharmajazz

6 ай бұрын

Most welcome. So simple, yet such a powerful concept. Thanks for watching.

Thank you!

amazing thank you !

Great tutorial. I will try it

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! It does seem to resonate with a lot of folks. It's often the simplest things... and thanks for watching.

Great full for the reminder .. great info.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

You bet. Thanks for watching. Never can go wrong focusing on the basics.

Amazing!

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much for this!!!!!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you find it useful. It's so simple, yet so powerful in helping clean things up. Thanks for watching.

Thank you.

Besides being an amazing musician you are also an amazing teacher! For some who play at such a high skill level it's difficult for them to break down something as simple as a five note chromatic pattern and apply methodology to it. That exercise is great for anyone at any level. Keep on sharing your amazing videos with us you have a gift and a gentle way about you.

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! This video seems to have really resonated with folks. I've got more in the works. Thanks for watching.

@joanschwanz7970

9 ай бұрын

@@stevesnelling7615o

Thank you so much for this! Being one that doesn’t have time for lessons and limited practice time, I appreciate any bit of worthwhile advice that can help improve my playing. Definitely subscribed!

@Dharmajazz

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub. Did you get the Scale Workout Checklist? There are a bunch of simple concepts like this one that can save us lots of time and improve the efficiency of our practice - I'm working on more posts. Thanks for watching!

Fantastic sir

This is very helpful, thanks!

Thank you for the insight

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure. I've got a new post almost ready on getting healthy tone. Please check back. Thanks for watching.

Simple yet SO INTERESTING

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Simple is good! Thanks for watching.

Thanks for sharing Sir.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for watching! Let me know if there is a topic you would like to see covered - I'll do my best to provide useful content.

Good stuff. Thank you

Thank you for this incredibly helpful video. I though. I also really liked the camera angles and how you explained moving the finger from the knuckle joint and your little bird beak analogy. Thank you also for discussing using The Black Keys and not getting stuck in the "Canyon" . These are extremely important details. Thank you thank you thank you!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure - glad you found it useful. That "bird beak" finger angle is something I've stumbled on quite recently, and it really affects my tone! Thanks for watching.

Superb advice! Thanks!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Most welcome! Thanks for watching.

Nice! Thx you

Dharmajazz, thanks for educating us in your unique and creative way.

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Trying to bring some light to the topic. Thanks for watching.

This has significantly improved my piano riffs exponentially, and i thought my 16th notes were already fast! Thank you for the tips!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Glad it worked! Thanks for watching.

This is a fantastic video and has all the most important lessons my piano teacher from college tried to help me with, coming from self taught, I had picked up all sorts of bad habits. In fact I should say the battle against tension and unnecessary movement it's true with all instruments, and for typists too.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback, Joshua. Yeah, a lot of other instrumentalists have confirmed the importance of relaxation. Typists! Of course. Thanks for watching.

What an amazing and helpful lesson. I’ve only been doing this a few days now in all keys, I too have shovels for hands and of course finding problems between the black keys…this video not only helps with the strength and accuracy in my fingers, but I’m now managing in between the blacks with less double notes. I thank you sir for this great lesson…much appreciated👍

@Dharmajazz

11 ай бұрын

Apologies for the late response - glad you found it useful. How has your progress been these past few months?

Thank you. It was VERY helpful!!!!!!!!!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it, and thanks for sharing that. I'm kind of amazed at how many people are finding real value in this concept. Thanks for watching!

Awesome

great advice!! thx

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. Let me know how it goes with the concept.

Great technique 👌

Thanks

Will definitely try it, thanks !

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Feel free to let me know how it goes! Thanks for watching.

Great!!!

@Dharmajazz

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! It's a surprisingly simple concept, yet so powerful. And thanks for watching.

Fantastico!!!

@Dharmajazz

8 ай бұрын

Grazie! Thanks for watching.

Good video 👍. Definitely going to try this and the Marek version.

Thank you so much for your wonderful video!!!😊

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Brilliant man, thank you!!

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

Most welcome. Thanks for watching!

Nagyon szépen köszönöm Dohnányi úr.Danke sehr..

@Dharmajazz

3 ай бұрын

Megtiszteltetés számomra. Köszönöm, hogy megnézted a videót // It's my honor. Thanks for watching the video.

@stefiv6270

3 ай бұрын

Tiszteletem..@@Dharmajazz

Beautiful video, great share, super nice demo. 🌹👍🎹

@Dharmajazz

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for your kind words. I viewed some of your videos - what a lovely channel you have! Thanks for watching.

Excellent

You're a fantastic teacher. Round of applause.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

That's very kind. Please let me know if there is a topic on which you'd like to see a video-maybe I'd have something to offer. Thanks for watching.

Amazing! Thank you.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Most welcome. Feel free to let me know how it goes when you work with the concept. Thanks for watching.

Thank you...

Thank you for the lesson, Your video help me so much.

Perfect!! I’m 55 and when I was about 15 or 16, I somehow by sheer dumb luck figured this out. My piano teacher (who was my dad) always had tight fingers, and he was stunned the day I figured this out because suddenly I was playing speedy lines way faster than he ever could. I knew what was going on, but I couldn’t explain it to him. Ever since then I’ve never been able to teach people what they were doing wrong. I could see their fingers were tight, but I couldn’t find a way to help them loosen up. I’m going to send them to this video. Thank you!!!

@Dharmajazz

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing that. It's amazingly simple, but, as you've found, leads to immediate results. Thanks for watching!

Thank you! I'll try that method! It looks natural

Great serious practice advise...thx from a senior beginner!

I will practise. Thank you.

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Great! Keep chipping away at it and the technique will come. Thanks for watching.

I loved your video. Over the years, I've developed teaching techniques that parallel your ideas! I'm thrilled to have that confirmation. I play/teach the violin/viola and I can tell you that your ideas transfer to other instruments as well. (As an aside, one of the most valuable classes I enrolled in during my last year at the University of North Texas was jazz improv. I was surrounded by keyboard, brass, woodwind, and percussion artists who inspired me in so many ways. To a person, they could all play fast - which pushed me [or pulled me] to do the same. I experimented with ways to eliminate tension. I could tell you stories!) Thanks for your wonderful video!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, George. Several instrumentalists have also made similar comments about the universality of the approach. And kudos for digging into improv'! I meet so many string players who can otherwise play well, but don't improv' one bit. Thanks for watching.

Thanks !very good 👍🏾

@Dharmajazz

7 ай бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's such a simple concept, but so helpful! Thanks for watching.

Very useful and in-depth as it can get in a short lesson 🙏🏼🙏🏼

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks - it could have been shorter if I didn't tend to ramble so much 😊 but some things benefit from deeper explanation. Thanks for watching.

Thanks a lot .... you helped me a lot

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching!

Really great lesson!

@stevesnelling7615

11 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

Dear Dharmajazz, I'd like to thank you so much for this video. I'm not a pianist or keyboardist but a guitar player, but I was struggling for a long time with this issue. I can play just about any chord comfortably and relaxed, but scale runs made my muscles very tight and consequently it sounded not that good and it was harder to play. Today I focused on relaxing all my muscles and it made a huge difference. Playing anything feels and sounds so much more natural and comes a little easier too. This is such an essential component of playing that often gets overlooked. I certainly wish I knew about it sooner!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Yeah, turns out this is a universal challenge, regardless of instrument. As you can see in the comments, addressing the factor of tension/relaxation has value for all musicians. I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching, and let me know if there's a musical topic you'd like to see a post about.

This was a REALLY helpful video, thanks a TON!!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found it useful. Check out some of my other vids - feel free to let me know how they work for you, I value feedback.

Oh yes, finally a piano "TEACHER" !!!!. So many of these piano players dont know how to teach. So glad I found you sir, you have wisdom, calm confidence, you articulate your instructions in a wonderful way, you are great. Have dabbled in piano for over 50 years, even though I am old I want to reach a better level, I will do that by following your lessons.

@Dharmajazz

11 ай бұрын

Appreciate the comments - glad you found the info useful. Feel free to check in with your progress - and thanks for watching!

@paulmurphy3838

11 ай бұрын

@@Dharmajazz I have tried to master Oscar Petersen's "night train" for years to no avail, the contra-punctual bars are just too difficult, the great Billy Joel's "root beer rag" is a marvellous piece, but for me, my fingers get tired. Billy is one of the greatest piano rockers of all time, absolutely the best. But of course Art Tatum, Fats Waller were outstanding for their era. I am going to try and study your techniques religiously, you have so much great knowledge and fabulous ability. Oh, not to forget about Joe Haiashi (probably misspelt that), OH the Japanese are such good pianists and composers, could go on and on.

@Dharmajazz

11 ай бұрын

@@paulmurphy3838 Those are ambitious tunes, but you can do it. If you haven't done so already, break down the challenging parts into smaller sections, and practice hands separately, slowy, gradually building up to performance tempo. Play each of those sections to the point of memorization. Then put hands together, again, in sections, slowly at first, then gradually building tempo. Even the thorniest counterpoint can be worked out this way. The key is patience at slow tempos. Happy practicing!

WOW, I will definitely add this to my practice...thank you!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Let me know how it goes! Thanks for watching.

This is really great!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, i hope you find it useful. Thanks for watching.

So useful. Thank you!

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

Wow, I think this lesson exactly what I've been looking for. I'm going to try these exercises! Four years into learning piano, I hope I can fix this problem.

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

I teach this as the first lesson at the keyboard for all my new students. Happy practicing!

@ThePROFESS10NAL

Жыл бұрын

@@stevesnelling7615 I’m 6 months into lessons and my teacher is the same. However, 6 months in I still have tense thumbs. It’s incredibly frustrating.

Yes very helpful, thank you

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

That's great! Feel free to let me know how the progress goes with it. Thanks for watching.

Nice!

Thank you. That few minutes was brilliant. My fingers are normally heavy on the keys, even slapping at them. Your advice is very sound and I will use it starting now. Please do more on this very topic. I subscribed, thumbs up, and rang the bell.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Glad you found it useful - thanks for watching!

Great lesson from a natural teacher. Thanks for sharing; hope to see more of your work sson.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comments. I've got several things ready to edit, and tons more content in the wings! Please click the bell for notifications for new posts. Thanks for watching.

Thank you so much! This also helped with guitar and violin

@Dharmajazz

6 ай бұрын

That's what my guitar teacher friend says! He calls them "fly away fingers." That's before applying a relaxation exercise like the one in the video. Thanks for watching.

@dreamyfauna

6 ай бұрын

You're helping so many people who don't have formal teachers and saving our hands from pain later too! :) @@Dharmajazz

Very helpful, huge thank you!!!❤❤❤

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found it useful. I'm really encouraged by how much this simple exercise has resonated with so many people. Thanks for watching. I've got many more videos in the works and will resume posting after Easter - please subscribe and watch for future content, and do let me know if there is a topic on which you would like to see some fresh perspective!

Excellent very helpful thank you for sharing

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure - thanks for watching!

Works, thank you so much!!! All the best!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching - glad it worked for you. Feel free to let me know how it goes with other material. Happy practicing!

@judithcordeaux-artist8121

Жыл бұрын

@@Dharmajazz Thanks ! Finally the answer ! 😊

Thanks a lots ❤❤❤

@stevesnelling7615

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

Quite helpful!

@Dharmajazz

7 ай бұрын

Glad you found it useful. It's such a simple concept, yet so effective in cleaning up our technique. Thanks for watching.

Mant Thanks, Best "Dharma Talk" I've Heard........

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Funny, I've found meditation is like this too: relaxation, weeding out the tension, not grasping with the mind, is important. Thanks for watching.

Great Video. Coming back to the piano after nearly 30-years, and it's been a slow process. Will definitely try your technique. Thanks for sharing.

@Dharmajazz

9 ай бұрын

Let me know how it's been going with your return to piano. Would love to hear how the relaxation technique has helped. Thanks for watching.

This video was worth it alone to know that it’s not abnormal that my 4th finger doesn’t come up as far as the others. I seriously have thought I had a deficiency there for years.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, that 4th finger just doesn't get the same altitude - but the point of the exercise remember is to gain isolation/relaxation. So as long as you can make some motion with the routine, that's sufficient. This whole exercise is more of a fundamental/preparatory concept, so once you feel you have it, I'd move on to other exercises, while letting this relaxation concept inform your practice. Thanks for watching!

Very Nice!!! You're doing Your Gift so amazingly Bro! Thank You!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the comment - and thanks for watching.

So glad my first piano teacher was a pianist for a symphony. Won’t say which one. But from the beginning he stressed the importance of correct finger and hand position. And how to use them correctly. Time to watch something else.

- put hand on the keys, all fingers touching keys - up down to metronome - cover all black white combinations - 12 keys

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Nice Cliff notes! That's pretty much it. Thanks for watching.

Thanks man! I am self taught keyboards and synths I never learned the proper technique but now I've decided it's time to learn the proper way to do it!

@Dharmajazz

8 ай бұрын

Congrat's on expanding your keyboard awareness. This relaxation exercise will help with everything you practice! I've got tons of free content I can share with you if you're interested. Send me a DM or visit my website and use the contact page to let me know what you are interested in and I'd be happy to send you some useful stuff to help you move forward. Thanks for watching.

Thank you! I'm using this for accordion.

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Nice! It does seem to have universal applications. Thanks for watching.

Agree 💯on every point!

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's tough to argue with the fundamentals. Thanks for watching!

Amazing lesson. Thank you ❤

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Would you care to share what you noticed when doing the exercise? Thanks for watching.

This was super good!

@Dharmajazz

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Austin. So simple, yet really effective.

Thks so much for this i been learning on simply piano..really been getting back into it..even tho i had since xmas i sing and songwrite so im trying to incorporate it all

@Dharmajazz

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. This simple exercise can help so many things so more smoothly. Happy practicing!