Piano-small hands! help?

Question

ive been playing piano for 7 years, and lately ive had problems with spreading my fingers enough to reach certain notes? cuz i have small hands and small fingers...now practicing rachmaninoff prelude in c sharp minor and that guy really had big hands lol...any tips for practicing or anything that could help me spread my fingers or something?

Answer 1

Honey, I am a piano competition judge in NY, and I *feel your pain*.  There is nothing that is going to make your hands bigger - PLEASE do not do anything that is going to hurt you!  If you want a chuckle, search YouTube for Rachmaninoff - big hands (or small hands).  This hilarious video comes up - two really good classical musicians who are also hysterical comedians.  They have a novel way around this piece.

As for Liszt - and Paganini - they both had a degenerateive disease (so di Lincoln) called Marfan's syndrome.  It is related to acromegaly - which Andre the Giant had.  In Marfan's the connective tissue between the joints starts to disintegrate - and so your bones can spread further and further apart.  Sadly, you eventually collapse, since you are *disconnected* - and you cease to breathe.  Violinists curse over those big stretches in Paganini - we curse Rach.

Answer 2

i have the same problem but still no resolution. sorry

Answer 3

i know what u mean about rachmaninoff having big hands -_- and liszt too XD

try looking for etudes (hopefully by czerny) that help you practice w/lots of large chords.  use these to warm up everyday.  i think playing appreggios might help you warm up too, since they'll help you get used to extending ur fingers.  

i'm not sure if this will help you, but try placing your hands in certain positions so that ur fingers will be able to reach larger intervals.  sometimes, if rotate ur hand and wrist a little, you'll be able to reach much farther.  

good luck w/ur practicing! :D