Re: Confused about hand positioning
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 10:06 pm
HI Linda
I am just barely ahead of you. Here are some of my thoughts on this (remember, I'm not much ahead of you, so take it for what it's worth.
On the different positions...watch some pianists on Youtube. You will notice their hands are all over the board. I think lessen's focus regarding position, is to get us used to the fact that the position will vary. It depends on what the song is, ie. what notes are being played.
On your last question, take the suggestion about where to place hands. In case you haven't noticed, the keyboard under the music on PGS has the keys you will be using colored, and will indicate where to place them. One of the frustrations you will likely experience (at least I did), is once you get used to playing the E 2 notes up from middle c with your middle finger, then next thing you'll be playing that E with your thumb. A little frustrating at first, but there is a method to the madness.
There is an upcoming lesson for you about the staff, and the methods used to indicate how the notes in the music are done to indicate a different octive. It will NOT cover the whole keyboard, but will get you at least a bit of understanding.
Another interesting thing...when playing the bass clef (is that the right terminology?) middle C is different on the bass, vs. the trebble.
I have been using the numbers, but I get to feeling that I won't learn the notes. But my path of an exercise is: if a bit harder, lower the tempo. Once I get 100% on that, raise the tempo to normal, or even halfway to normal...whatever you need to get through it. I keep practicing it until I get 100%, preferabley 2 times in a row, but I often take the second 100% even if not consecutive. It can make the lessons longer. But I feel I've mastered it if I can do that. And after that, I start practicing without the numbers on. (As I get a little further down the road, I am finding that I turn off the numbers earlier, and am doing some of them now w/o the numbers.
It's nice to see some other beginners posting. The forum isn't overly active. (My hobby is classic cars...forums for those are very busy...so it makes me feel this one is not overly active. But...I'm seeing responses and help when needed. Good forum and group.
I'm real pleased with the PGS system.
Good luck. Hope to see you more on here
I am just barely ahead of you. Here are some of my thoughts on this (remember, I'm not much ahead of you, so take it for what it's worth.
On the different positions...watch some pianists on Youtube. You will notice their hands are all over the board. I think lessen's focus regarding position, is to get us used to the fact that the position will vary. It depends on what the song is, ie. what notes are being played.
On your last question, take the suggestion about where to place hands. In case you haven't noticed, the keyboard under the music on PGS has the keys you will be using colored, and will indicate where to place them. One of the frustrations you will likely experience (at least I did), is once you get used to playing the E 2 notes up from middle c with your middle finger, then next thing you'll be playing that E with your thumb. A little frustrating at first, but there is a method to the madness.
There is an upcoming lesson for you about the staff, and the methods used to indicate how the notes in the music are done to indicate a different octive. It will NOT cover the whole keyboard, but will get you at least a bit of understanding.
Another interesting thing...when playing the bass clef (is that the right terminology?) middle C is different on the bass, vs. the trebble.
I have been using the numbers, but I get to feeling that I won't learn the notes. But my path of an exercise is: if a bit harder, lower the tempo. Once I get 100% on that, raise the tempo to normal, or even halfway to normal...whatever you need to get through it. I keep practicing it until I get 100%, preferabley 2 times in a row, but I often take the second 100% even if not consecutive. It can make the lessons longer. But I feel I've mastered it if I can do that. And after that, I start practicing without the numbers on. (As I get a little further down the road, I am finding that I turn off the numbers earlier, and am doing some of them now w/o the numbers.
It's nice to see some other beginners posting. The forum isn't overly active. (My hobby is classic cars...forums for those are very busy...so it makes me feel this one is not overly active. But...I'm seeing responses and help when needed. Good forum and group.
I'm real pleased with the PGS system.
Good luck. Hope to see you more on here