Quick Tips: Trills!

Today let's talk about quick tips for getting your trills faster and more confident! Most importantly, let's talk about your thumb and how it can sometimes save the day!

 

Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:                     

 

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/quick-tips-trills-piano

 

  

 

We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!                                                    

  • What questions do you have on this topic?
  • Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
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  • Exactly what I needed! Trills!

    Like 2
  • Great topic. I am a late bloomer and recovering accordionist.  Currently preparing the Scriabin Nocturne for the Left Hand. The trills are my greatest stumbling block. Looking forward to the class. John

    Like 2
    • Hazel
    • Hazel
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hazel here.  I’m struggling with a long trill that appears in slow movement of Mozart Sonata K310 Bars 18-19. It lasts for 2 bars in the right hand with a 2 part melody played in the Left hand simultaneously.  Any tips on how to practice it and get it sounding even?

    Like
    • Justin
    • Justin.1
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Any tips for playing the trill in measure 6 of the Gigue of Bach's English Suite No. 6?  It's very awkward as one has to play the trill along with other notes in the right hand very quickly.

    Like
  • If there's enough time and this question doesn't arrive too late, about the Chopin Nocturne Op 72 No 1... any tips for the trills on bars 36 and 37?  Thanks!

    Like 1
    • Daniel Hewitt I'm with you. I listen to so many recordings of this trying to find something that I can do that doesn't stop the flow.

      Like 1
  • Can't get up the chat function in the live event... any one else have that problem? 

    Like 2
      • Gail Starr
      • Retired MBA
      • Gail_Starr
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Sindre Skarelven I'm having the same problem!

      Like 1
    • Gail Starr Guessing it's universal...

      Like
    • Sindre Skarelven Same problem here.

      Like
    • Sindre Skarelven Gail Starr Daniel Hewitt We are very sorry about that, we updated our Chat functionality to include Chat Replays of previous livestream and ran into a bug yesterday which we quickly fixed! The chat started working half-way through the livestream again, but we understand that people were disappointed that they couldn't ask questions to Dominic, but rest assured that the chat is supposed to work again! 🧙‍♂️

      Like 1
    • Martin No worries! The Chat Replays are brilliant! It's so nice to follow along to get that community feel, and some important insights from the chat even when not being there live. Thank you for doing that! Thank you to Dominic again for this awesome lesson on trills! 

      Like 1
    • Sindre Skarelven I did not know you could see the chats now after the livestream! Interesting. I will check that out when I go back to watch next time. I often am only able to watch the first half live. 

      Like 1
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Martin I am glad you were able to fix it so quickly! Thank you!

      Like
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Sindre Skarelven Like Susan, I didn't know you could access "Chat Replays". Neat! Thank you for pointing this out, Sindre!

      Like
    • Pauline Susan Sindre Skarelven It is a very new feature we just rolled out and not all of the recent livestream are updated yet, but we will get there :)

      Like 1
      • Pauline
      • Pauline
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Martin Great! Thank you, Martin! I appreciate how responsive Tonebase is! Excellent!

      Like
  • Yes, Sindra, same problem!

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    • Mary Mathews I guess it's a general problem then! Hope Dominic notice this

      Like
  • Hello, I need help with the trills on Bar 73, Chopin Nocturnes, Op. 9, No. 1 in B flat Minor.  Thanks! 

    Like
    • Qingzhi
    • Qingzhi
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello, could you say a little about how long the trill should be played? I am practicing Sarabande of Bach's 1st Partita, at the end (B24-26) I am not confident when to stop.

    Like
    • Pauline
    • Pauline
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, Dominic! And all! I was able to join today for a portion of the lesson. I am rewatching the lesson now. I love the analogy you gave, Dominic, about standing still vs. walking around and how that is analogous to trills. Makes sense!

     

    Varieties of speed in trills - even within trills themselves...very interesting.

     

    Shaping trills - to give the impression there is more "spinning" going on. Yes, I hear that.

     

    Dealing with groups of three is less "alarm bell" sounding...Brahms preferred groups of three. Fascinating.

     

    Trills need not always be fast. LIstening to you play Bach with varied speed of trills is gorgeous. It has much more character and fullness.

     

    Peter Frankl's thought of fast trills sounding like a bumble bee (annoying) in slow music is insightful. Later in the lesson you speak of the trills "buzzing". :D

     

    What a difference the pedal makes with trills!

     

    I look forward to hearing more of that Liszt piece you're working on - "La Romanesca"!

     

    Different speeds in the different hands, too.

     

    Thank you, Dominic! Thank you, everyone, for the questions, too!

    Like
    • Gail Starr
    • Retired MBA
    • Gail_Starr
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    No worries, Martin!   Thank you for all you do!

    I'm going to log in to Jeremy's Live Stream in a moment.

    Like
    • Vander Soares Ramos
    • Music educator. Piano teacher.
    • Vander_Soares_Ramos
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view
    I´m playing this Mozart´s sonate. It was a great discussion.  To me is more comfortable to play 4 notes trill. Thanks Dominic.
    Like 1
    • Vander Soares Ramos wonderful!

      Like 1
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