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"How can I strengthen my left hand?"


PRACTICE ETUDES

There are many exercises designed to develop your left hand. If your piano teacher does not tell you which ones (they really should), here's some information:

Beginner & intermediate: Here is an amazing list of Czerny Etudes scores with their descriptions for your needs: https://pianoexercises.org/exercises/czerny/. Op. 399 and Op. 718 are specifically for the left hand, whilst the other etudes tend to split the hands and give both a workout!

Intermediate/Advanced: Chopin Etude: Op. 25 No. 7. I love this etude... it's SO nostalgic.

Advanced: Some examples are Chopin: Etude Op. 10 No. 4 and Op. 25 No. 12.


SELECT PIECES WITH AN ACTIVE LEFT HAND

Many normal pieces are also great for a strong left hand. You can pick passages from them to focus on. Some great examples are:

Beginner: Bach 2 and 3 Part Inventions; Clementi Sonatines

Intermediate: Sonatas by Clementi, Mozart & Haydn Sonatas.

Advanced: Beethoven Sonatas, Rachmaninoff Moment Musicaux Op. 16 No. 4 and Prelude Op. 23 No. 2.


PLAY LEFT HAND ONLY PIECES

There is a list of pieces here for the left hand and the scores are free: https://imslp.org/index.php?title=List_of_Piano_works_for_the_left_hand&oldid=764014

My favourites are: Intermediate/Advanced: Scriabin Prelude and Nocturne Op. 9 for the Left Hand.

Advanced: Blumenfeld Etude Op. 36.


DO SELECTIVE PRACTICING

Pick a difficult passage from a piece you are working on:

- Practice left hand alone, do rhythmic exercises from my instagram highlights.

- When you play, simply listen more to the left hand while you play slowly.

- Singing always help me hear the part of music I am trying the fix - so sing each hand while you play the other one.


Feel free to comment below your favourite left hand pieces!


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