Forearm Rotation  «Prev  Next»

Hidden Actions of Forearm Rotation

The discoveries of Tobias Matthay with respect to forearm rotation, do not refer merely to the actual rotatory movements previsouly mentioned, but deal particularly with the invisible changes of state rotationally. These rotational states of change deal with
  1. momentary reversals or repetitions of stress and
  2. relaxation rotationally
which, although unseen, are needed for every note we play. Whether we are aware of the rotational actions of the forearm or not, they are required to achieve a continuous sense of motion. The fact is, that no player ever has been successful, nor could be, without the closest conscious or unconscious obedience to these very laws of forearm rotation, which is mostly unseen during performance, are nevertheless aurally and physically necessary to enable effortless playing at the piano.

Success or Failure

As these all-important alternations and repetitions of rotational stress are comparatively rarely disclosed to the eye (being usually unaccompanied by any rotational movement whatsoever) and therefore hidden, they have totally escaped attention or recognition, alike by players and teachers during all these past centuries of keyboard use.
During practice, the artist must analyze the rotational stresses to determine if we are using
  1. single rotation or
  2. double rotation.

Successful Players have always obeyed Rotation

Obviously, all players in the past, who successfully happened to master their instrument, must also have fulfilled these hidden changes in the forearm stresses rotationally, although unaware they were obeying any natural laws. Such master-artists were rare and all the other players continued to play with supposed stiff limbs. The weak fourth and fifth fingers could not be liberated, since these fingers were not coopearting with the hand and forearm.