Week 1: Improving Your Right-Hand Thumb Technique with Piotr Kozłowski

Welcome to Week 1 of the latest Two-Week Intensive!
For Week 1, Piotr has curated an assignment to work on below.

1. Please view Piotr’s video

2. Work on the exercises!

3. Post your progress and video so that Piotr can observe and provide further feedback!

 

Video link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoyLJR3UVYo

 

Attached above, are two samples and downloadable exercises from the “School of Virtuosity!”

 

Thumb Exercise:

Record yourself playing the thumb exercise (Sample No. 1), cycling through all the keys starting from C Major.

 

Use the following fingering:

  • For C–Eb: 12121
  • For E–G: 13131
  • For Ab–B: 14141

 

Stretching:

Stretch before and after the exercise using Sample No. 2.

 

Practice Tips:

Practice daily, and monitor your progress, focusing on the movement and how you're using your thumb, especially on black keys.

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    • Michele
    • Michele.1
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Piotr!

    Here are my videos after 1 day trying to follow your advice re exercise 2. I have only included short sections so as not to bore you with too many mistakes, but hopefully these will be adequate to gain some feedback.

    Thank you!

    Michele

     

    Exercise 1, with 1-2 fingering

    https://youtube.com/shorts/95srCJJwgPo?feature=shared

     

    Exercise 1, with 1-3 fingering

    https://youtube.com/shorts/bRxej6dckp8?feature=shared

     

    Exercise 1, with 1-4 fingering (obviously a lot more practice needed!)

    https://youtube.com/shorts/VtCVcX34bEo?feature=shared

     

    Exercise 2, first few - feeling looser on these compared with my first attempt.

    https://youtube.com/shorts/O9QDSBfIWi0?feature=shared

     

    Exercise 2, really really awkward when thumb is on black key and index finger is on a white key!

    https://youtube.com/shorts/VXVCq1bXuGM?feature=shared

    Reply Like
    • Michele Yay! Great! In exercise 1, try not to "land" too much on the thumb but rather keep it bouncy so there is more action in the joint. Otherwise, great! Your wrist action is exemplary!

      How does it feel afterwards?

      In the exercise 2, try doing staccato for the second time through :)

      Reply Like
    • Dagmar
    • always curious
    • Dagmar
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    I have a max span of a ninth on white key edges. The stretch exercise is 100% tension,  it doesn't  feel save at all! Already after 3 times my hand hurts. I will not do that, are there any adjustments that are save for women and smaller men?

    Reply Like 1
    • Dagmar Skip it all together if it you only feel tension and no stretch, you can simply stretch the space in between the fingers using your other hand. Feel free to stick to the first exercise only :)

      Reply Like 1
    • Helen Lee
    • Helen_Lee
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Piotr,

    Here are my videos. Thank you for taking a look. Look forward to your feedback. (Sorry for the extra space below. Having formatting issues.)

     

    1. Exercise 1: I have small hands. But I gave this a try. I wish I had less tension. 

    https://youtube.com/shorts/60-jbsa84wM?feature=share

     

    2. C major - 121 finger numbering

    https://youtu.be/EcALflFU4v8

     

    3. C major - 131 finger numberinghttps://youtu.be/ce0ZjGZODAQ

     4. C major - 141 finger numbering

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/qz_eS4Bt8ds?feature=share

     

    5. All keys with alternating finger numbering

    https://youtu.be/etBXvIu_OBA

    Reply Like
    • Helen Lee 

      Exercise 1 – Looks great!

      Exercise 2 – I love the elasticity in your wrist! Just pay attention to maintaining an even rhythm—sometimes the middle note leans a bit longer, while the thumbs are shorter. Otherwise, it’s excellent!

      Do you feel more freedom in your thumb now?

      Reply Like
      • Helen Lee
      • Helen_Lee
      • 1 mth ago
      • Reported - view

      Piotr Kozłowski Thank you so much for the feedback! My thumb does feel a bit more flexible.  141 feels awkward still, and I noticed my #2 finger extends when I'm playing 141. Is that a sign that I'm not fully relaxing that finger? When I try to curl the #2 finger in, I notice more tension. So I've just been letting it be. 

      Reply Like
    • Helen Lee yeah, just let it be :) as long as you feel more or less comfortable overall

      Reply Like
  • Hi Piotr,

     

    May I please check with you if it's ok and in good form that I have to move my hand so much for the D major scale? I have attached the video. Doesn't look like you move your hand this much in the demo? 

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/rwPzCxbXfxI?feature=share

     

    Thanks! 

    Reply Like
    • Natalie Peh Yes, movement is good for wrist elasticity but you won't be able to play fast... So, I would recommend landing on the black key a little closer to the edge so the movement in and out is a little smaller. You are doing great though!

      Reply Like 1
    • Hi Piotr Kozłowski! Thanks, for the feedback. I have tried to play closer to the edge of the black keys. Like this-

       

      https://youtube.com/shorts/yun4xPgxdq0?feature=share

       

      Is this better?

       

      Thanks much!

      Reply Like
    • Natalie Peh Excellent!

      Reply Like
    • Marc M
    • Amateur piano enthusiast
    • Marc_M
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Thank you for the video, Piotr! I love the Jonas books--they're the first technical exercises I actually like and find really helpful.

    I'm late to the game and gave these my first try Wednesday...here are the videos from then. I am not particularly proud of them, but I'll practice daily and post an update this weekend hopefully. 😅

    For the chord one I was still getting on what notes to play sometimes, so that will take some more mental work in addition to physical work. https://youtu.be/gz1cSBG1-uw

    For the thumb one I found the 1-4-1 ones extra tricky. Doing them all at once I could notice my thumb getting tired. https://youtu.be/lzL0yYn1GlM

    Reply Like
    • Marc M Hi Marc, the exercise 1 sounds good! Just one thing, try focusing also on how you are getting to the next two notes, meaning the movement of the fingers to the new positions is also important. This transition gives you time to think while maintaining continuity of the movement. 

      Exercise 2 is excellent is well! I know it's easy to say, but try limit jumping between 4 and 1 finger, ideally we would connect these, maybe play a little closer to the edge of the black key. Try to speed it up now :) It looks like you are having fun, which is the point!

      Reply Like
  • Here is my Day 6 practice of Exercise 1, using 3 different scales with 12, 13, and 14 fingerings.

    https://youtu.be/yBSRDq-BZP4?si=pKWwtNnGL56qxLGd

    Reply Like 1
    • Ellen Weaver These two look and sound excellent! Good job!

      Reply Like
  • And here is my Day 6 practice of 3 dom 7th chords.

    https://youtu.be/T-3WkjuOJpk?si=Stntphnt9xB2bbAz

    Reply Like 1
    • Sara
    • Sara.4
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Thank you Piotr, fun exercise. I only post a video of the scales and pardon scales mistakes (great refresher on my scales generally!)

    https://youtu.be/fbb0HDZVVxs

    Reply Like
    • Sara Thank you, Sara! Such a good recording, I like that you play softly and quite fast! Do you feel more flexibility in your thumb after a week of practice?

      Reply Like
      • Sara
      • Sara.4
      • 3 wk ago
      • Reported - view

      Piotr Kozłowski thank you Piotr. Yes more flexibility and more awareness of thumb position. 

      Reply Like
    • Dana
    • Dana
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Posting two attempts in E and A-flat. I feel my wrist is twisting too much and my pinky sticks in a weird way when doing the A-flat exercise. 
    What is the secret to happiness here? Keep wrist straight and slide hand forward and back when going between black and white keys? 

    Oldish hands starting to get a little arthritic. I find the whole thing rather painful. 

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/FAsl60Sy_Gg

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/RSqoiTBu3dM

    Reply Like
    • Dana Hi Dana, sorry to hear it was painful! Even if it felt uncomfortable, your thumb moved into positions you didn’t expect it to, which is progress—that’s a plus.

      Try to keep your wrist flexible to allow movement in all directions—forward, backward, and sideways. I hope that helps! Overall, it looks good. Thanks for joining the challenge!

      Reply Like
    • Kimy
    • Kimy
    • 3 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi Piotr,

     

    I'm kind of late in posting my practice videos, though I have started some practicing last week.

     

    The first 3 videos are for exercise 1. The 1414 fingerings are very hard. My thumb will be tired very fast.

     

    https://youtu.be/W2X8AevUqfU?si=eMnOqCC1lJKkdj0T

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/e0GkLlijl7Y?si=bOYFj0deVshcKlkt

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/-3RJ1UBdHZY?si=AiuesTTZDBLZJ46z

     

    For the exercise 2, my hand (5th finger) cannot reach note. So I have to lift the thumb somewhat and stretch.

     

    https://youtube.com/shorts/_Qph4L-pWCA?si=HKQncu2S-U_Flqt2

     

    Thanks a lot for your sharing !

    Reply Like
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    • Improvising Classically with George Ko!
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    • "Improve your Technique!" Month
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    • LONGTERM ONGOING - Bach's Goldberg Variations
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    • Mentorships and Two-week Intensives
    • Two-Week Intensive: Exploring Robert Schumann
    • Improve both Hands in 2 weeks with Piotr and Elois
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    • Crash Course on Controlling your Dynamics!
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    • Improvising a simple ABA Piece with Jeremy Siskind
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    • "Improving your rhythm!": Beyond the Metronome
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    • Improving your Sightreading with Leann Osterkamp!
    • Improve your Chopin Etudes with Henry Kramer!
    • Improve your Arpeggios with Claire Huangci
    • Improve Your Harmonic Analysis with Ben Laude
    • Improve your Chopin Ornaments with Jarred Dunn!
    • Improve your Scales!
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