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The problem comes on the last page of the Schubert sonata #959. A dotted eigth F octave followed by a sixteenth E octave followed by a full F major chord in root position. It's presto. We're going pretty fast, quarter note equals MM 120 or thereabouts.

The problem is that I can't get all the notes of the F major chord to sound together. The A and the C are always a little late. I've tried various tricks, like trying to sort of lock my #3 finger in between the A flat and the B flat when I strike the F octave, but even this kind of pre-placement doesn't work. I've also tried playing it slowly one-hundred times and more, and this doesn't work either. On the few occasions when I'm up to tempo and all the notes sound together, it sounds great.

Any suggestions? Any help?

On another issue: I tried to make this post simple by taking a picture of the music with the idea that I would include it with the post. I've seen other postings on the forum of newly delivered pianos and so on, so why not a picture of the music under discussion. Anyhow, I can't figure out how to include it with the post. Can anyone offer me any help here?

Thanks so much.

Tomasino

To post an image:

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Tomasino,

I know exactly where and what you're talking about. I dug out my trusty Dover Edition and had a peak. This is a very beautiful sonata. I've been working on, for many years now, his very beautiful last one in B-flat, and I've read through (only once) the one you're working on for real.

Anyway back to your problem. Couple of things to try.

1) Balance the chord toward the bottom.
By doing this, the rest of the fingers will fill in naturally. You can use the get-ready position, but plan to land with the outside of the hand. Also don't try so hard. Sometimes by working too hard at something it never happens.

2) Try the exaggeration method.

!!! Warning!!!
Don't do this just before a recital because you'll confuse the snots out of yourself... Trust me...

Try jumping to the chord, but instead of playing it where it should be, play it lower. Do this a few times, maybe five or ten. When you go back and try the correct version, your mind will be tricked into thinking that the chord is a lot closer than it really is.

Anyway I hope this helps, have a lot of fun, and I hope you're enjoying your time with Mr. Schubert.

John

But the Image has to be on the internet?
It can't just be on the computer..
Am I right?

//Dave the Aftershave

www.imageshack.us

Easy to use hosting of images provided they are smaller than 1MB. And you dont have to sign up.

I'm left handed and learning to play - I usually practice for about 2 hours - take short break after scales, chords, Hannon and all that fun stuff - the other day I went to work on two new pieces Fur Elise and Chopins easy Waltz in a minor (can't figure out why this is called easy) Chopin anything is not easy - anyway to make a long story short, my left hand started to feel sore, I kept going for little longer figuring that I could work it out, (years of dance training comes to play) and of course that didn't work out so I stopped and lost a day of practice.

It seemed strange that it was my left hand which is stronger that was bothering me and not my right hand which of course is weaker.

Everything is a-ok now - go figure.