well, because of my injury i am out for about 6 months, which is devastating because i was really rolling on the rach 2 and prokofiev 1...

anyways, does anyone know of any good right hand pieces out there that are fairy easy to obtain? i know that there is a lot of piano written for left hand...are any of those suitable for right hand, either? or any pieces which could be played with the right hand, even though its written for both? HELP ME!
I AM DESPERATE TO PLAY AN ACTUAL PIECE!

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: PianoMuse ]

Amy,

Okay, listen.

I know that it sucks. I've been there (tendonitus in my left arm) and had to take several months off. It's so depressing because we can't do the one thing that makes us so happy and keeps us motivated. Not to mention that (at least when I had it) it can make you have an identity crisis - am I still a pianist even though I'm injured?

BUT, you have to think about it like this: either take a few months off or take a few years off if you keep playing. I know that you're just interested in right hand music (sorry to say that there is little), but any intense muscular movement is resonated throughout the body and your left hand will surely pick up the negative sympathetic vibrations.

Take the time to focus more on other aspects of music - theory, history, analysis, listening to recordings with a critical ear. Even better and more pertinent to your situation is to do lots of research about performance injuries and write a paper. Although it's not an assignment per se, it's something that you can always refer back to and even help other people if they are ever in the same boat. Another good idea would be to take up running or other light exercise - anything to get the blood circulating through the whole body will help you heal faster.

Life is long! Just take a rest from piano for a few months and ease your way back into it. Your first commitment is always to yourself, and in this case your commitment is to healing yourself.

And yes, I will help you with your theory.

well, here lies my problem:
the most i can take off is about 4 months. i am a piano major...anything more will set me back and i feel like it will just keep lowering my chances of getting into a really good grad school...
my teacher also says that i have to practice right-hand, i dont have a choice. aghhhh! its all very frustrating.

Whose hand is injured? Yours or your teacher's?

Muse, This might be a good time to learn a new piece, particularly ones with a difficult right but easy left, like maybe a waltz or a jazz piece. This also gives you a chance to really study the music by using your right hand to play the left part. This supposedly really helps the learning process. Then when your left is ready, you will have them down relatively quickly.

How about Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu (Op. 66 #4)? It's really best to practice right and left hand separately anyway because of the fast 4 against 3 rythm and then put them together once you have both pretty automatic. The left hand is pretty easy, so once your left hand is healed it shouldn't take very long to finish it.

Patti

Ahhhh Grasshopper...you worry so....you have been given a rare oppertunity. You will now be given a chance to learn the truth in music; 99% of the Art of Music is mental. How often have we spent mindless hours playing Hanon? Here is your chance to study MUSIC! Not theory, or why Bach chose the chords he did, but the songs themselves. Can Grasshopper pick up an unknown piece of music and play it mentally? Know the sounds of every chord and rhythm? Can you transcribe music from a CD without the aid of an instrument? Beethoven wrote beautiful music while he was DEAF! He was one with the music. You have been given a great oppertunity to be one with the music. Sieze the moment. If you take full advantage of this oppertunity, you WILL become a better musician than if you NEVER HAD AN INJURY! Exercise your mind and not your fingers for awhile. Then perhaps Grasshopper,....you will be able to snatch the pebble from my hand......

When I was out due to an injury last year, I started composing music. I would play a melody with my right hand and then add in all the other stuff after on the computer. I learned a lot about music in general from doing that. I also bought lots of CDs and really listened to the music. I also went to many concerts and listened and picked up on some techniques and I learned a lot about performing in general from watching the way the players carried themselves. Just because you are not actually playing, doesn't mean that you are not still learning and being a musician. I did play every day with my right hand but I only did it for about 15 minutes per day. If you want more to do, I suggest that you read some books about music related injuries. It is actually really interesting. After this is all over, you will be very glad that you took the time to get over your injury. Trust me on this one. If you need any more suggestions of things you can do or if you just need to talk to someone, you can e-mail me. Pianogirl185@aol.com

this post rocks