LearnJazzPiano.com archives: how will one hand in practise affect the other

mstore -- 03/01/2005, 05:50:28 -- #11649

hey! I´m wondering, since it has become a habit for me to not practise to play melodies in my right hand. how will this affect my left hand? I have noticed that the left hand seems to have improved a lot as well even though i haven´t practised it alot. How would concentrating on playing with my left hand affect my playing in the right hand? Could this somehow correct my odd thumb fingering problems when playing in odd keys? I seem to allways get my thumb in bad places. You huys have any thoughts on this? martin

Scot -- 03/01/2005, 16:19:41 -- #11655

Technically your left hand won't get b etter if you don't practice it, but mentally, the practice with your right hand is helping your jazz ear and being able to hear and play notes will rub off on your left hand. One of the things you might  want to do is practice melodies with both hands, then practice chords with both hands. I like to keep my left hand strong, as strong as my right if possible. Listen to Alan Broadbent live at Maybeck Recital Hall for a demonstration of what a  strong left hand can bring your playing. Like I said before, any practice - left hand or right hand - will help your jazz ear. The stronger your ear is, the more you can play what you really intend to play (what you hear).  If you play slowly enough, sometimes you can play only what you hear and you don't worry about what your "fingers" can play, but instead what you hear. I'm kind of rambling here, but hopefully you get the idea.

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