Adaptive Strategies for Small-Handed Pianists

Foreword Acknowledgments Key to Abbreviations and Graphic Symbols Chapter 1: Understanding Small-Handedness Defining the Small Hand 1 Demographics of Small-Handedness 1 The Evolution of the Modern Piano and Its Relationship to Small-Handedness 2 Historical Background 2 Ergonomically-Scaled (Reduced-Size) Piano Keyboards 1 Pedagogical Misconceptions About Small Hands 2 Selection Bias and Other Gender-Related Aspects 2 Attempts to Stretch the Small Hand 1 Small-Handedness and Injury 1 The Role of the Teacher 1 Conclusion 1 Reflection Points Chapter 2: Fundamental Principles of Movement and the Playing Apparatus 1 Principles of Work Efficiency 1 Principles of Movement 2 Leverage 2 Newton's Laws and Piano Technique 2 Muscular Contraction and Release 2 Additional Characteristics of Movement Economy 2 Planes of Motion 2 Neutral Position at the Piano 1 The Parts of the Playing Apparatus 2 Torso 2 Shoulder and Upper Arm 2 Forearm 2 Wrist 2 Hand and Fingers 1 Conclusion 1 Reflection Points Chapter 3: Technique and the Small-Handed Pianist 1 Maladaptive Tendencies 2 Fatigue 2 Power 2 Reach 1 Lexicon of Fundamental Facilitative Techniques for the Small-Handed Pianist 2 Avoiding Fatigue 3 Timing Muscular Releases 3 Using Levers Appropriately 3 Cultivating Finger-To-Elbow Alignment 3 Combining Basic Movements into Larger Gestures 3 Reducing the Amplitude of Movements and Gestures 2 Producing Power 3 Maximizing Key Speed 3 Transmitting Force Through Skeletal Structures 3 Using Arm Impulses 2 Addressing Large Reaches and Distances 3 Using the Arm to Navigate Distances 3 Using Passive Spread 3 Using Vertical Spanning 1 Boundaries 1 Conclusion 1 Reflection Points Chapter 4: Redistribution 1 Uncrossing Parts 1 Eliminating Stretches in Chords and Arpeggios 1 Facilitating Leaps or Hand Shifts 1 Increasing Accuracy, Power, and Control 1 Maintaining More Neutral Hand and Wrist Positions 1 Facilitating Trills and Tremolos 1 Maintaining Legato and Line 1 Projecting Harmony 1 Conclusion 1 Application Problems Chapter 5: Refingering 1 Fingering and Hand Size 1 Encouraging Compact Hand Positions 2 Chords 2 Arpeggios, Broken Chords, and Melodic Intervals 2 Consecutive Double Notes and Octaves 2 Readjusting the Hand to a More Compact Shape 2 Playing Seconds with the Thumb Alone 2 Using Non-Consecutive Fingerings 2 Playing Trills 1 Repeating the Same Finger to Recover Space in the Hand 1 Optimizing Sound Production and Voicing 2 Repeated Use of the Fifth Finger and Thumb to Project Melodies 2 Aligning the Hand and Forearm in a Skeletal Position 1 Moving Longer Fingers over Shorter Fingers 1 Substituting the Thumb for Inner Fingers 1 Using Positional Fingerings to Achieve Maximum Speed 1 Substituting One Finger for Another on the Same Key 1 Retaking Released Notes Silently 1 Conclusion 1 Application Problems Chapter 6: Maximizing Reach and Power 1 Covering Large Distances 2 Applications of Either Oval or Fan-Shaped Gestures 2 Applications of Oval Gestures 2 Applications of Fan-Shaped Gestures 1 Facilitating Large Reaches 2 Applications of Passive Spread 2 Applications of Vertical Spanning 2 Applications of Passive Spread in Conjunction with Vertical Spanning 1 Dividing or Rolling Chords 2 Consecutive and Non-Consecutive Divisions or Rolls 2 Simultaneous Divisions or Rolls 1 Releasing Notes 2 Releasing Notes in Chords and Multi-layered Textures 2 Releasing Notes in Melodic Intervals, Arpeggios, and Broken Chords 2 Releasing Notes in Broken Octaves 1 Using Rotation for Power 1 Taking Advantage of Skeletal Support 1 Playing Staccato Chords and Octaves 2 Repeated Chords and Octaves 2 Traveling Staccato Chords and Octaves 2 Legato Octaves 1 Grouping Notes into Larger Gestures 1 Omitting and Revising Notes 1 Conclusion 1 Application Problems Chapter 7: Musical Solutions for Technical Problems 1 Legato 2 Legato in Widespread Cantabile Melodies and Arpeggiated Accompaniments 2 Legato in Octave and Double-Note Passages 1 Fortissimo Playing 1 Pedaling 2 Damper Pedal 2 Sostenuto Pedal 1 Voicing 1 Rhythmic Inflection, Tempo Modification, and Rubato 1 Gestural Shaping 1 Conclusion 1 Reflection Points Chapter 8: Integration and Exploration 1 Diagnosis and Integration 1 Exploration 1 Closing Thoughts Glossary of Terms Bibliography List of Activities List of Examples Lists of Figures List of Tables Index