Right hand scales: Ive hit a brick wall

Hi,

After a hiatus of a few years, I've resumed piano playing. I practice the major scales in the right hand and have increased my speed from 80 bpm to about 126(playing 8th notes). ( I practice with the left too, but at a much lower speed).

I can't seem to break beyond 126 bmp, mostly when coming back *down* the scale. I typically have the most problems playing D or A major, and I feel that my index finger is some how at fault.

So for now I just practice at a lower tempo. Any suggestions? Any good resources/videos/web sites that discuss wrist, arm and finger movement/articulation when doing exercises like this?

Thanks,

Hello,

Suggestion: practice primarilly hands apart and listen carefully for

I recommend you check Abby Whiteside's books (they're often available in public libraries) and consider her teaching on the 'upper arm' movement. She believes fingers alone cannot deliver the virtuosity you seem to be looking for. It's not easy stuff to accept at first, but it's made the first Chopin etude a lot better, and I'm seeing it help more and more in unexpected ways.

luck

Joe Rose

For me, it's my thumbs. They don't bend at the second joint from the tip, a congenital problem shared with my brothers. Consequently my scales always have a perceptible jump during the crossover. Years ago I contrived two and three finger arpeggios to compensate.

A piano teacher once advised me to give up playing since in his opinion I was a piano player 'from the wrists up.' However, I was already making my living as a piano player, so I couldn't take his advice.

The problem is likely in your head. Stay relaxed, focus on the sound in your head and the beat. If you can sing it up to tempo that means that you can hear it up to tempo and you should be able to play it up to tempo. Try singing it and playing it at the same time with a focus on the singing. At first though, the sound will be very weak, you will barely be able to press the keys down. Good luck.