Piano Hands
In the world of pianists, teachers and students, one hears the phrase, “My, you have great piano hands.”
What they mean, of course, is that your hands are shaped well for the piano.
But what is the proper shape of a hand for the piano? Are there many shapes?
The answer is, of course, there are as many hands as there are ways to play the piano.
In history, great pianists have had both large and small hands. In practical terms, a pianist should be able to stretch ten white keys to navigate the principal piano literature.
Rachmaninoff, a huge bear of a man, had giant hands that could stretch twelve white keys on the piano. Many pianists have trouble with his music for this very reason. But in contrast, there are pianists who specialize in Rachmaninoff, quite well, like Alicia de la Rocha, who has very small hands. It’s all in the mind.
Josef Hoffman had such small hands that Steinway built him a special grand piano which he used for concerts. Each key was a tiny increment narrower than a regulation
Tags: alicia de la rocha, child prodigy, dexterity, grand piano, great pianists, hand positions, josef hoffman, piano hands, piano literature, postures, rachmaninoff, white keys
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