After my recital at my Grandmother's 109th birthday I want to learn this piece:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ByULkdy8bWw

It's probably not as hard as it may look because unlike Fats Waller and James P. Johnson works it has no tenths(the LH often plays single notes) and in general much smaller left hand jumps than works by those composers.

My biggest concern is left hand fatigue(when there is pain in the forearm). I have a similar problem with the Maple Leaf Rag, but I've played it so many times the fatigue has gotten smaller and smaller and is not too bad.

Any suggestions about how to avoid this (or what causes this problem), especially from those who have played this work or a lot of stride pieces?

Thanks.

I just want to say that my ears are open in this thread, too, because I recently came across the same video and would like to learn the piece but have never crossed the tracks to stride. The closest thing I know to that kind of left hand is bits of the Liszt 2nd Rhapsody and I found that aspect to be the most difficult of the whole piece.

Interesting youtube piece, but what caught my eye is your grandmother. Tell us about her.

Tomasino

i encountered a similar problem with Rachmaninoff's prelude in g minor. what i did was set my metronome to a slow pace and did the left hand alone, FORCING myself to have my left hand entirely relax, so it almost feels like I'm just flopping my hand on the keys, but make sure you're hitting the right notes.

Then just speed it up and it should become actually easy for you.


oh yea, and tell us more about your grandmother =D

She will be 109 in August and is the oldest person in Pittsburgh. I have given a recital at her birthday party since she was 90. Last year the mayor came, and the governor might be there this year.

I've tried to use google to find statistics on how many people in the US are 109 but can't find this information. Any help would be appreciated.

wow! great genes! If you're going to live to that age you have time enough to figure out the Finger Breaker by yourself!

WHERE CAN I GET THE MUSIC FOR THIS PIECE? I AM DESPERATE FOR THIS MUSIC AND HAVE NOT YET GOT IT.

If you know where i can get this music (not too expensive) then PLEEEAASSSEEE!!!! let me know !!!

THanks

James Dapogny had a book of all of Morton's piano music. It was published by the Smithsonian and Schirmer's, and Fingerbuster is included.

I think you can it for free at pianophilia.com. Look for the thread about ragtime and stride or do a search under Finger Breaker. If not there try the Gamingforce section with Popular Music.