Melody in the left hand

[eku_girl83]

I was wondering if any of you had any tips for how to practice a piece where the melody is in the left hand. I've played piano for many years, but this is something I still struggle with. I'm so accustomed to trying to bring out the melody in the right hand that it becomes a huge problem for me when the music calls for the reverse. Short of

Comments

[dazedpuckbunny]

I play the melody over and over with my left hand until it begins to feel natural before adding in the right. That generally is what works for me. I have no problem crossing over hands though, but that's probably the lazy way. haha.

[theletterem]

Thinking of my left hand as heavier than my right when I have the melody in the left hand works for me.

[cloudlessday]

For me, it really is about all just knowing the two parts well enough where you can focus your attention on the left hand and let the right hand do the accompaniment without having to pay much attention to it. It just becomes something like a motor reflex.
Doing plenty of intensive practice with each hand separately really does help a lot, and then combining the two slowly enough where you can keep the melody clear and expressive. Then, increase the tempo and don't continue increasing it until you can play it as you would like. Every once in a while, go back to the tempo you began with. Once you bring it to full speed, it comes much more naturally. It's the way my teacher taught me to do it, and I swear by it. I've heard people say playing all sorts of scale exercises and the like really helps as well.

[marquisdd]

That's quite good advice.

Also, if you realize that left-handed melody is a sore spot for you, you might be behoovinated to seek out practice pieces that acknowledge the subject. Which is like saying, "Claustrophobic? Ride more elevators!" But it works, painful as the remedy may be.

Off the top of my head: Gershwin's 2nd Prélude has a middle section with a left-handed simple melody.

And of course Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier fugues trade the melody off everywhichway all over the keyboard.

[eku_girl83]

I've played Gershwin's 2nd, but I played the section you refer to by crossing over. Maybe I should go back to it and not cheat this time lol

Thanks everyone for the advice!

The Hannon Excercises

[jnapier]

There is a book out there called the Hannon Exercises. There are 60 exercises all told. Doing any one of these with your left hand will strengthen that left hand.

I would suggest that you invest in this book and within a month you will see that with good practice your left hand will become stronger than your right. Or at least strong enough to make that left hand melody come out.

Hope this helps...

Re: The Hannon Excercises

[eku_girl83]

I have the Hanon book you're talking about. Now I think my New Year's resolution will be to learn it!

[jajunk]

How about reaching into the piano with your right hand a-la Hiromi? :D

In all seriousness though, the only way to do this is to -hear- the melody through your left hand; so it actually would be a great exercise to let your right hand be doing something simple (or nothing at all) and focusing entirely on your left hand! remember to have fuN!!!