Quick Tips: Improve your Octaves!

Fri Apr 7 2023 at 11 AM PDT

Event by Team

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

Today we discuss one of the more difficult technical challenges: Octaves! But with some simple tips and advice start improving them immediately!

Check out Jeffrey Biegel's Octave Exercise!

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/courses/player/jeffrey-biegel-technical-regimen-pt?moduleSlug=jeffrey-biegel-teaches-technical-regimen---octave-exercise&t=1&recommId=

Follow this event link to tune in!

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

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?

- Retired
- Janetw
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Any chance there will be a replay for those of us who cannot make this day/time?
- Dominic_Cheli
  
  2 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Janetw the streams are all archived! ask any questions before the stream here, and I will answer them!
- lc_piano
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Looking forward to join. I could always used octaves exercise for my small hands.
- priscillayam
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I am weak on Octaves, I’ll watch, any tips will help. Priscilla
- Suzanne_Hogan
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I’m learning a lot of Chopin. Do you have any tips on playing double octaves, especially emphasising the top notes?

Also how to play the beautiful descending triplets with speed and rhythm?

Im looking forward to this this tutorial.

Many thanks 😊
- ALICE.1
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I'm at TB grade level 3 and have not practiced octaves yet. I have small hands and can only reach an octave. what's the best way to start practicing octaves without injury? thanks
- springgrass
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Wow! JEFFREY BIEGEL answered my question about octaves with small hands when he was the Tonebase month special guest. i was concerned what pieces is better for small hands : Chopin Scherzo no 2 or no 3. We haven't started any of these pieces, but there are quite a lots of the octaves on Mendelssohn Concerto no 1. Looking forward to this!

The Jeffey's video talked about repeating octaves, how about octave descending or ascending?
- Mariela
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Hi! Very interested in the class and exercise to improve octaves. See you there!
- Nina
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Two questions. Should very small hands (7 year old boy) that only reach white keys solid octaves at the very edge of keys try black key octaves? Or just wait to get older or stretching exercises?

Also curious how to avoid tension in repeated broken octaves as pathetique Beethoven sonata. Thank you!
- Mariela
  
  2 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Nina Hi Nina! The session with Dominic was full of tips and very good recommendations. I think it's worthy you watch it. How much would a 7 years old boy grow? I can't tell but the hand will certainly grow as well. Also, there is a course offered by Penelope Roskell where she expands nicely in many technic issues, including octaves. By the way, I'm almost positive she mentions the Pathetique Sonata for some examples.
- Victor_Wong
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Thank you Dominic for the great tips! Although, I wasn’t able to attend live, I still appreciate the playback access and find these sessions very useful!
- Frank.6
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Mr. Cheli, I thoroughly enjoyed the session on octaves. I did post a question during the live session regarding the octaves in the beginning of the Liszt Sonata. I was wondering if you could look at the double octave passage further on, bars 55-81. I feel like these are similar to the opening octaves but on steroids, mostly because of constantly changing directions. Maybe I'm just hoping for a magic formula, but if you have any specific tips I would greatly appreciated it.

Frank
- Gauvino
- 2 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Thank you Dominic for this very enlightening session! I’m currently practicing the Campanella, Pathetic and Chopin 25/10 and your tips are very useful.