I have a question. I'm a beginner taking lessons, and I've noticed that when practicing basic scales like c and g, as I try and go faster the overall effect is choppy and not smooth like it would be to run your fingers through a harp.

How do I practice, or work on getting my fingering up to speed, without losing the fluid like sound to it. I'm pretty good with some of the hanon excercises,

but with the scales it just starts sounding choppy.

In scale playing, absolute eveneness in the fingers and a smooth tone is needed in order for technique to be gained. I advised practicing all of the scales very slowly at first, making sure that all of the notes come out at the same volume. (Do this hands separated if needed) After you have these scales even, your fingers will get stronger and you can then vary your scales by playing them in different rhythms or octaves etc.

I was told to count 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 ..... when playing the scales to develop eveness of tone

I agree with CrushTest on his points. My teacher told me to play slowly in the beginning, make sure all the notes are even in both length and volume. Then speed them up. A metronome can be most helpful here. Set the metronome slow, like at 60 in the beginning, when you are satisfied with your tone at this speed, move it down 2 clicks, and so on.
Keep practicing, you will see your desired result very soon.

I agree with CrashTest as well. What I was referring to was how to get past the slight break in the continuity of tone when changing from finger 3 or 4 to 1.

Try lowering or "flattening" your hand a little (not sure if I've described this properly). There is a tendency to raise the wrist a little higher than usual when the thumb has to go under the other fingers. This actually puts the thumb at a higher position so it has farther to drop to reach the appropriate key.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[ December 07, 2001: Message edited by: Mike Pappadakis ]

I've noticed that I can play much more smoothly and quickly when my *wrist* is relaxed. I've never had much of a problem relaxing my arms and shoulders, but my wrist was kind of a hidden tension point until my teacher pointed it out.

Playing smoothly and quickly is much easier when you're completely relaxed. Don't know if tension is part of your problem or not, but its worth looking at. Try sitting at the piano and making your neck, shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers as TIGHT as you can make them, then go thru them one by one relaxing them. This should let you "feel" the difference between tension and relaxation. Once you know the feeling, you can simply make it one of the many things you're aware of as you play, and by being aware of it you can help keep yourself relaxed.

Regards,
Dan

Practice those scales!

When attempting to play fast, you must first play slow, placeing all of your fingers correctly. Once you have mastered one speed, gradually get faster. It may take a while, depending on how quickly or slowly you are speeding up, but you will eventually get it.