Ideal hands

[Chocturne]

I read on another forum that the ideal hand type is large palms and small fingers, is this true? If it isn't, is there such thing as an ideal hand type? I've also heard that tapered fingers are good for piano, is that also true? I have I think quite small hands I can comfortable reach an octave I can stretch to a ninth a tenth I think would be pretty impossible for me though. Will that stop me being able to play Chopin's Nocturnes?? Are small hands are real disadvantage?

[elvenpianist]

Small hands sometimes require a different way of approaching the keyboard, but they're only an impediment if you think they are. You should be able to play the nocturnes just fine.

One good thing about small hands is that they tend to be more nimble than large ones! haha

Don't worry about it. I also have small hands, and worried for years about them, until I finally had a good teacher tell me that there was no reason to freak out, I was fine. (I also span an octave).

-elf

[Brewtality]

I read on another forum that the ideal hand type is large palms and small fingers, is this true?

I don't really think there is such a thing as an 'ideal hand'. There are as many different hand types as there are pianists imo. I have large palms and smaller fingers (my fingers are actually mostly crooked) and I sometimes cannot reach certain chords because of this.

I don't think small hands will stop you from playing Chopin nocturnes, and really, even in instances where a larger hand is required you can always roll the chords.

[PJF]

In my mind, the ideal hand is one that is balanced, flexible, with a strong arch; also with a broad, toned, supple palm and lean, flexible fingers. However, this 'ideal hand' must be properly connected to the rest of the body and mind to be of any use.

Small hands are not a disadvantage. In fact, hands that are too large are a greater impediment. If you can reach a 9th, you can play just about anything, IMO.

I can reach an 11th and have no advantage over someone with a smaller span. My prof is an amazing pianist, her hands are tiny but she knows how to use them effectively. I think I would be a better pianist if I had smaller hands. Sometimes, large handed pianists run into technical problems that are easily avoided by those with smaller hands. For example, I have trouble playing white keys in between black keys, if my fingers were a bit narrower, this would never be an issue.

[juufa72]

There is no such thing as "ideal" hands. Any hands will work if they are very strong and flexible. (though some pieces will be impossible with small hands due to large chords)

But if I can place the label of ideal on hands, they would look like these:

[PJF]

Rach's hands, I presume?

[juufa72]

of course!

[PJF]

His pinkie is the length of my index finger! ......

[elvenpianist]

Dinu Lipatti's hands. SCARY.

-elf

[jre58591]

you might want to check that link, sarah.

anyways, my hands are rather large. i can reach an augmented 11th. however, agility does not come as easily. id say that its nice to have a balance. those that can reach a 10th max probably have it best. they can reach large chords and have enough agility to support that. however, there are exceptions, like hamelin, that defy this balance. he has a reach very close to mine, but he can move his hands 1000 times faster than i can.

[Chocturne]

How big was Rach's hand span??

[MindenBlues]

Ideal Hands?

I have seen the gypsum model of Chopin's left hand in Paris (small, female like, thin) and that of Liszt in Weimar (large paws).

Which hands are "better", those from Liszt or from Chopin? The one got the listeners to their knees because of sheer virtuosity, the other won the hearts of the listeners. Who was the "better" pianist?
There are piano geniuses with large or small hands, thick or thin fingers. Who is the "best" pianist?

My conclusion:

The ideal hands are exactly the hands we got.
It depends entirely on ourselve how we use them to make the best of it.

[juufa72]

How big was Rach's hand span??

I heard he could play a 12th with a few notes in between the 5th finger and the thumb. But I am not too sure.

[juufa72]

Lipatti link: http://members.fortunecity.com/hyperion ... patti.html

[juufa72]

Look at those ideal hands!