{"id":2249,"date":"2020-11-13T08:18:20","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T16:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=2249"},"modified":"2023-01-13T15:55:13","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T23:55:13","slug":"destupefy-your-left-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/destupefy-your-left-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"De-Stupefy Your Left Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a progressing piano player, sometimes it will feel as though your hands aren\u2019t on the same skill levels. You might find yourself asking, \u201cWhy is my left-hand coordination lacking??\u201d \ud83e\udd14\ud83e\udd14\ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s quite simple, actually! When we\u2019re playing songs, <i>the right hand is in charge of the melody<\/i>, leaving your left hand to plod along and play back-up. It just doesn\u2019t get the same amount of attention when we\u2019re playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But don\u2019t worry! I\u2019ve got some &#8220;handy&#8221; tips \ud83d\ude09 and a smart practice routine to &#8220;de-stupefy&#8221; your left-hand&#8217;s coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the exercise, we\u2019ll work on improving:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accuracy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dexterity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coordination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rhythm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s time to get both sides in harmony. \ud83c\udfbc\ud83c\udfb6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><span class=\"blue-text-block\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Featured%20Box%20images\/destupefy%20left%20hand.jpg\"><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 De-Stupefy Your Left Hand \u2b05\ufe0f<\/b><\/h3><p>For many people, our left hands are weaker. And while the right hand typically carries the melody on the piano, piano wouldn&#8217;t be the same without the left hand providing beautiful arpeggios and accompaniment patterns. Your left hand deserves more love, so check out the De-stupefy Your Left Hand course to give it the attention it needs! Free with your Pianote membership.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/destupefy-your-left-hand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CHECK IT OUT<\/a><p><\/p><\/span><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Finger Lifts<\/strong> \ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t even need a piano for this one, and it\u2019s smart to practice whenever you find a moment to breathe and a comfortable surface to tap on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gently rest your hand on a surface and take turns lifting and pressing each finger down from thumb (finger 1) to pinky (finger 5) and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might notice it\u2019s especially difficult to raise your ring finger (finger 4) independently from the rest. The 4 and 5 fingers are connected differently than fingers 1 to 3 and have less mobility. But this will ease up and become more natural with time and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><i>As you lift and press, not only are you building dexterity in each finger, but you\u2019re strengthening them and improving the connection from your fingers to your brain.<\/i> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> If you find you are spending some time away from the keys, check out our lesson on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/practice-piano-without-a-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">practicing piano without a piano<\/a>.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Octave Scales<\/strong> \ud83d\udc19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What about ways to practice on the actual keyboard?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The octave scale is a smart routine that will target all of the areas you might struggle with. It might sound intimidating, but <a href=\"\/blog\/play-piano-with-small-hands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">even if you have smaller hands<\/a> you can do this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll be working with the C scale (just the white keys!) to keep things simple for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9<b><i> HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> Watch how I target each note that I am about to play with my 5-finger. As you move your hand across the keyboard to span the octave, always be thinking about where you want to be playing next.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As always, start slow and bring your speed up gradually. Even well-practiced players can find accuracy like this challenging. Focus is required to play consistently and comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be very mindful to play with <a href=\"\/blog\/importance-of-piano-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">proper technique<\/a>\u2014you don\u2019t want your fingers to tense up! Keep your wrist elevated and relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now here\u2019s where things start to get a little more complex&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Left Hand Octave Scales With Right Hand Scales \ud83d\udc50<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll play the notes of the \u2018C scale\u2019 in our right hand as we play the octaves in our left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<p><video playsinline=\"\u201c\u201d\" autoplay=\"\u201c\u201d\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/Destupefy\/pianote-qt-lisa-witt-why-is-your-left-hand-stupid-GIF.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For this exercise, we always play the same note with our left hand as we do with our right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notice that my left hand is playing <em>staccato<\/em>, which means to come right off the keys before playing the next note. Meanwhile, my right hand is playing <em>legato<\/em>, which means to play smoothly from one note to the next. Getting your hands to play in these <a href=\"\/blog\/3-tips-for-piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">different styles<\/a> simultaneously is an added challenge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udc81\u200d\u2640\ufe0f <b><i>LISA SAYS:<\/i><\/b> Imagine legato like playing with honey on the keys, your fingers sticking to the notes, each one flowing into the next. <\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Switch It Up!<\/strong> \ud83d\udd00<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Too easy for you? Now it\u2019s time to switch the roles of each hand&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Octaves with your right, single notes with your left!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It seems like a simple concept, but it might take a minute for your brain to adjust to this change. Start slow and steady!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udd25\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>HOT TIP!<\/i><\/b> Use a metronome to ensure you are working on your timing as well! The metronome is a great tool to measure your progress as you work your speed up, and there are interesting ways to incorporate it into your practice!<\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Try Different Keys<\/strong> \ud83d\udd11<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When practicing this exercise, I highly recommend trying out different <a href=\"http:\/\/musictheoryfundamentals.com\/MusicTheory\/keySignatures.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">key signatures<\/a>. Pick any of your <a href=\"\/blog\/how-to-practice-piano-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">favorite scales<\/a> and apply this routine. This will better familiarize you with the full range of keys on the keyboard, and challenge you to think a little bit harder about what you\u2019re playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Do Everyday Tasks With Your Left Hand!<\/strong> \ud83d\udcaa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are right-handed, this will be especially useful! Choosing to use your left hand over your right for run-of-the-mill tasks like opening the door or brushing your teeth will further reinforce the connections between your brain and body. And, perhaps, &#8220;de-stupefy&#8221; your hand a little bit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>All of this combined will help you to have much smarter left-hand coordination, and when you go to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/500-songs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">play songs<\/a> you\u2019ll perform with more confidence, you\u2019ll be in much better control, and you\u2019ll have more fun at the piano!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Train your brain with these techniques for improving your left-hand coordination on the keys! The ambidextrous Lisa Witt shows us some handy exercises to get you playing smarter and faster with both hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[523,509],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-2249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hand-independence","category-technique","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2249"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10987,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2249\/revisions\/10987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}