SURVEY PLZ!

Aug 16, 2009 16:46

IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN OR KNOW ANY MUSICIANS, PLEASE READ THIS!

PLEASE READ THIS, V. V. IMPORTANT! )

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ariadne1 August 16 2009, 15:41:51 UTC
1. How many instruments do you play?

Piano, harpsichord, recorder.

2. Which instrument do you consider your principal instrument? (e.g. I play 4 instruments & I sing, but I consider the violin my principal instrument, having played since I was 7 and focusing on it the most.) You may name two, if necessary, but not more.

Piano.

3. How many years have you played the instrument(s) listed in question 2?

40

4. Name a piece you are currently working on.

Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2 in c#"

5. Please splay your hand such that your thumb and pinky finger are as far apart as possible. Measure the length from the tip of the thumb to the pinky using a ruler and write down this measurement. You may answer in inches, but centimetres is preferred.

Fingers Curved (as though hitting keys with only thumb and pinky): 21.5 cm
Fingers Flat (as though mashing hand down on all keys in between thumb and pinky): 22.5 cm

6. FOR PIANISTS ONLY: what is the largest interval you can reach?

LH: Comfortably, a 10th, but I can squeeze out another half-step if I need to.

RH: Comfortably, a 10th + that pesky half-step; if pressed I can eke out a half-step more (depending - white keys or black?)

7. Would you mind your results being used in the more comprehensive survey following this one? No personal details are required. If YES, please give an email you check often. You may be contacted in a month or so.

Sure. ariadne dot snape at gmail

8. Are there any other comments you would like to add? (e.g. are you double-jointed, do you have hypermobility, or Marfan's syndrome? anything that would affect your hand-span in particular.

Nope. Just loads and loads of piano. :)

10. Would you prefer your comment to be screened?

No need...

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ariadne1 August 16 2009, 15:45:32 UTC
P.S. I think finger length may have something to do with all this - I know people with huge hands and stubby fingers who can barely reach an octave... And I remember doing stretching exercises to get that 10th when I needed it for Gershwin... *waves*

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gilded_glamour August 17 2009, 08:30:44 UTC
I agree. My gut-feeling at the moment, though it remains to be confirmed, is that people often assume that playing the piano requires longer fingers and a longer hand-span, and thus it is GENERALLY those people who end up playing the piano, and it has turned into something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, I guess. As I said, it's just a hunch, and one of the things I would definitely like to explore, hence the survey just to get some kind of idea of where I'm going. Thanks so much for participating :) If there's anyone else you know who plays an instrument, please let them know about this!

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