Can anyone give me some pointers on how to practice playing without looking at my hands? I'm a pretty good sight reader so I don't look at my hands always, but have to when there are jumps and stretches.

I am practicing a few notes at a time with my eyes closed and sometimes I hit it and sometimes I miss. I think I might be getting a bit better but not very quickly. I'm wondering if there are some things I can do to make it easier.

I'm not sure if I should visualize the keyboard in my mind or feel other keys as a reference point.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Just try a quick glance for big leaps. Always it helps to visualize the keyboard, you're probably doing that already.

There's nothing wrong with a quick, occasional glance as long as you have the complementary skill: finding your place in the music afterward.

It can help to learn to use the bottoms of your eyes. A lot of information can be gleaned from your peripheral vision without actually glancing down.

As usual (looking or not), repeating any problematic movement several or more times helps it to 'set' in your kinesthetic memory. Peeking is still better than allowing a practice mistake to become fixed in muscle memory.

Tips? Yes: breathe and stay relaxed, don't panic or seize up if something goes wrong, practice. Good playing posture (a sloppy posture is a hidden wellspring of keyboard mishaps).

You already know the tips. Don't worry, you'll get where you want to be if you keep at it.

I'm going to try the peripheral vision suggestion...that makes a lot of sense.

It is tough because every time I miss I feel like I am setting in that bad motor memory. I'm thinking I should maybe try 5 or 6 times looking so I know I hit it and then on the next try not look. This might allow me to continue to practice but not miss so much that I'm getting worse.

Thanks

Possibly out to lunch:

. . . Have you tried playing with your eyes closed?

Scales should be easy. Arpeggios should be easy -- no jumps.

Then graduated jumps -- say triads (CEG) in the key of C:

CEG DFA EGB (one-note jump)


CEG EGB GBD (two-note jump)

and so on. Or:

CEG DFA CEG EGB CEG FAC CEG GBD (returning to "root position" after each triad)

Those kinds of exercises might develop enough muscle memory to help you keep your eyes on the page.

. Charles

One quick way that works well is to turn the lights off and play in the dark. You'll train your ears as a bonus, too.

I also look at my hands for large leaps.

I think you're too worried. The trick is to look down at the hands, and then get back quickly to the spot on the page. Now THAT takes practice: not losing your spot while taking a quick peek at the hands.

Are you looking down to check your hand or to spot a location on the keyboard?

One or the other, or both, depending on the situation.

That makes sense. Thanks.
(As for me, I'm trying to look anywhere that might help!)