Group 4

Let Your Fingers Fly with Claire Huangci!

First step, scales, second step, arpeggios! As a young student, I found myself struggling to deal with arpeggios due to the flexibility needed in so many parts of the body, fingers, wrists, arms and even shoulders. Playing piano suddenly became a much more physical activity! However, after finding the right way to ‘lock in’ to each key, and letting your motoric memory take over, I found arpeggios one of the most enjoyable technical aspects of piano playing! Dazzle yourself with the rolling waves under your fingers!

Improve your Arpeggios in Two Weeks with Claire Huangci!

  • Sign-Up Period: August 11 - 14
  • Course Period: August 15 - 26
  • Class Size: 4 Groups á 10 Participants
  • Optional check-In via Zoom: August 18, 10am PST

 

Assignments

Submit a video containing the following assignments:

 

1. Try out the pattern of arpeggios going up, contrary, up, down, contrary, down in all the major and minor keys and take a video of the keys that caused the most difficulties. And ask any fingering questions you might have!

2. In the Joseffy exercises, it’s a very extensive collection of various arpeggio exercises. Try to read through and transpose some of them during your practice session. And then pick one specific pattern which you found the most effective and record it for us to have an open dialog where we exchange ideas and comments.

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  • Dear friends, here is the link for Claire's Zoom Check-In. Please note that the meeting is 1h earlier at 10am PST!

    Zoom-Meeting beitreten
    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82951000522

    Meeting-ID: 829 5100 0522

    arpeggio group 4

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  • Important message from Claire:

    I was very happy to have had the chance to briefly meet you and discuss practicing arpeggios!

    I would like to first off thank you for the enthusiasm which is inspiring, and secondly, apologize for my delays in responding within the forum your personal questions or videos that you had uploaded.

    I unexpectedly gave early birth to a baby girl on Sunday evening and have been in the hospital and will remain here until Friday. This was a bit out of schedule of course, but one never knows in such a case.. and all has been well so far!

    I would like to offer one further zoom session, like the one from last time, where I answer questions more personally, from whoever would like to ask. In this session, I might not be able to demonstrate so well:), but I will do my best!

    This zoom should take place within the week of August 29th, so we will be in touch to schedule the exact time very soon. I look forward to meeting you all again and working together!

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

      Claire HuangciCongratulations and best wishes! Get plenty of rest and enjoy the special bond with your baby. Alice

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      • Jackie
      • Jackie
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Claire Huangci congratulations! You must be very tired! Don’t worry about us, I’m sure we are all happy to get some extra time with these arpeggios. I hope everything is going well.

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    • Claire Huangci  Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl! Blessings on you and your family!

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    • Roy
    • Royhj
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi martin , the video is not working for some reason.

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    • Roy Hi Roy, thank you, I will take a look at it!

      Like 1
  • arpeggio group 4

    Dear friends, the assignment video should now play back correctly!

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

    Claire Huangci Thank you for the tips, especially on not focusing on playing legato. I've been taking private lessons for 8 months, and have practiced arps around circle of 5th (C/a, G/e, D/b, A/f#) and currently working on f# (I used the fingering in the Palmer, Wilard scale book). The Joseffy exercises seem to be difficult for me but I will try it slowly. If you have other tips for beginner level, please feel free to drop me a note. I will post videos of my practice later. thank you very much!

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      • ALICE
      • ALICE.1
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

        Claire Huangci Here's the video I played f# root arps: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eWqhIwjfgIA

      and 10th arps: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U0w7gX7RRqY

      Am I leaning too much forward (slouching)? Any comments on posture and how to play it without tension, and smoothly would be great!

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

      ALICE 8 months of piano lessons? You are doing really well!

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      • ALICE
      • ALICE.1
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Jackie You are so kind. My teacher is awesome! I can feel the tension while playing but not sure how to feel more relaxed...

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    • Jackie
    • Jackie
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I just spent the last half hour on this thing. Now I understand the pattern and can play it in any key, so I thought I'd try to focus on hearing some sort of line amongst the notes. Still working on this, but it was very fun! 

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

    Jackie Wow, You played really nice! I will try this. 

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

    How is everybody going? I must confess that I didn’t have a big day of arpeggios today - I was recovering from the 4 am masterclass. I hope to get back on track tomorrow. Claire Huangci i have a question. I spend about 4-6 hours a day playing piano. These exercises take time to learn and really master. I am also preparing a concerto for performance and need to write some cadenzas, which I am really struggling with. Is it best to focus on one or two exercises a day to transpose them - that would take about an hour, then have a quick play through the arpeggios, or should I play all exercises and not worry about transposing them for now?

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    • Jackie
    • Jackie
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Claire Huangci hi, I hope you are well! I’m sorry I can’t make it to the meetup. It’s at 3am here in Sydney, and I can’t disturb the neighbours at that time of night. I will post some videos next week! All the best, Jackie.

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  • HI - I will watch the replay - very eager to see what you suggest to develop better arpeggios. I have been working on Chopin Etude Op. 10 #1 for a while - and I have improved significantly - using rhythm alterations, shifting emphasis from one landing finger to another, etc. I'll try to make sure I can attend the next meeting.

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    • Roy
    • Royhj
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm afraid this intensive turned out to be a little (/a lot) above my paygrade. I love these exercises and I learnt a lot just going through them to understand the skills my future self will need. And... the're being well guarded in my to do. But I need a couple of years to work on the :) (said with positive eagerness and going back to practice my Valse No. 19 in A minor).

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  • How can I reduce tension in my Left arm? (Other than by learning the notes better..) 

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/JaZDGBP7QZLMdUxa8

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/AiYU235mjs49pco18

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      • Jackie
      • Jackie
      • 2 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Jeanette Berntson here's a thought on how you could relax your hand. I don't have an overhead camera, so I hope you can see what's going on. I hope this helps you.

      Like 3
    • Jackie Thank you! You demonstration and explanations are very helpful for me!

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

    Here is my C major arpeggio played in quavers, triplets and semiquavers.

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