At 04:26 AM 7/28/2003 -0400, T wrote:

I think "economic" is an important word here.  And Tilman does have a way
with words!  I was playing some high-speed traditional fiddle music at a
jam last night, and I noticed that the fingers of my left hand were almost
not moving at all--they were almost in contact with the strings.  The point
of this, it seems to me, is that more movement will slow things down.  Of
course, the original question was not in the context of speed alone, but
that surely must be a consideration.

JB


>The effect of an economic technique may be looking like the fingers
>are 'glued' to the keyboard, and that's indeed what most old tutors agree
>about, but look: if achieving that _impression_ [which could be _unlike_
>that economic technique itself]is only possible for you with tension and so
>on, something is fundamentally wrong. A good playing technique only works
>with low tension and a high potential to use one's strength in a well-
>directed way. Harpsichord playing needs usually little strength, hence the
>old descriptions of 'letting the fingers fall on the keys'.
>But not 'cramping not to let them fall', and stuff like that...
>T.