🎵 JJ's Piano Playing 🎹

Documenting the journey rediscovering my piano hobby.

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Methods

[ Draft ]

JJ van Zon, 2021

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Piano Motion Symbols

Introduction

This is an idea for a notation for that might extend fingering notation from just numbers to additional symbols, indicating how the hands and body might move.

I hope this might help create awareness of the body and help with piano technique.

Piano playing may involve:

• position, move, spread, turn, press, stress or hold stationary
• fingers, wrist, arms, torso and seating
• in x, y or z directions.

Not all body parts or motions seem equally involved.

These symbols aim to be a quite literal representation of body and motion, while still schematic and hopefully not ambiguous.

Not all positions and motions might be equally useful for piano technique. This exposition may make less assumptions about what is best. It might be a more neutral display of what is possible with the body, for enhanced awareness of the body, rather than what is best for piano technique.

Basic Elements

These might be some of the basic elements used in this proposed notation. Combinations of basic elements may form specific meaning.

	Finger		Move		Press
	Fingers		Spread		Loose
	Wrist		Turn		Tight
	Torso / arms		Stationary		Slightly (braces)

Three Dimensions

Depicting things in 3 dimensions, the symbols may be like looking down at the hands in a sort of perspective projection. To represent depth, diagonal lines might be used. Here is how some things might work in 3 dimensions:

	Move left / right		Turn right & left / looking down
	Move forward / backward		Turn forward / backward
	Move down		Turn right & left / looking forward
	Move up

Diagonal lines might not be a hard rule. Sometimes diagonal lines just mean diagonal lines, instead of the depth dimension.

Up / Down With Curled Lines

Diagonal directions seem to matter for arm positions. In that case diagonal lines might not be available for up/down directions. Instead bent lines might be used for up and down. It may represent the curve, that the arm appears to have in those positions.

	Up = curled out
	Down = curled in
	Small curl = 1D direction (up / down)
	½ curl = 2D diagonal (forward-up)
	¼ curl = 3D diagonal (forward-up-out)

Turning

Here are several variations on how turning motions might be depicted in 3 dimensions.

Turn right (looking down)
Turn left (looking down)
Turn right (looking forward)
Turn left (looking forward)
Turn left / right (looking forward)
Turn forward
Turn backward
Turn forward / backward

Turning Arc

To express a partial turning motion (instead of a full rotation), an arrow might be used. Some parts of the body might not be capable of a full turn.

The beginning of the arrow might be denoted with a dash.

Nuance

Nuance, like press a little or move a lot, may be written down like this:

	Restfully	Slightly	Normally	Exaggerated
Press
Move
Tight Wrist
Loose Wrist

Cross Over

Thumbs and fingers might cross over each other. This may be one of the basic techniques in piano playing. Different ways of crossing over may be depicted:

	Cross over (large)		Thumb under finger / right hand		With wrist turn (thumb under finger / right hand)
	Cross over (small)		Finger over thumb / right hand		With wrist turn (finger over thumb / right hand)
			Thumb under finger / left hand		With wrist turn (thumb under finger / left hand)
			Finger over thumb / left hand		With wrist turn (finger over thumb / left hand)

Fingers

Finger Position

The hand may be placed with loosely curled fingers. Sometimes curling of the fingers might be more pronounced, perhaps for additional control. Fingers may also be placed flatter on the keys. These following table shows different ways of drawing out these things:

	Curved / High Fingers	Pronounced Fingers	Flat Fingers (Upward)	Flat Fingers (Downward)
1 Finger (Left)
1 Finger (Right)
2 Fingers
3 Fingers
4 Fingers
5 Fingers

Fingers Stationary

To express holding fingers stationary, lines might be placed above or below a finger symbol, or at the sides or top or bottom. A perspective effect is attempted to be used to distinguish these.

	Curved / High Fingers	Pronounced Fingers	Flat Fingers	Finger Numbers
Fingers Stationary (left / right / 1 finger)
Fingers Stationary (left / right / 3 fingers)
Fingers Stationary (up / down / 1 finger)
Fingers Stationary (up / down / 3 fingers)
Fingers Stationary (forward / backward / 1 finger)
Fingers Stationary (forward / backward / 3 fingers)

Finger Move

Here is an attempt to depict multiple ways of drawing out moving motions for fingers. An arrow may be placed near a finger number, or finger symbol. Also might be demonstrated, examples with arrows when displaying multiple fingers. For the depth direction, diagonal arrows might be used to depict a certain perspective projection.

Finger Move (Right)

Finger Move (Left)

Finger Move (Right / Left)

Finger Move (Forward)

Finger Move (Backward)

Finger Move (Forward / Backward)

Finger Move (Down)

Finger Move (Up)

Finger Move (Up / Down)

Finger Press

For finger pressing an arrow might be used with a dash below it, to represent pressure. Arrows may be placed in different ways in relation to a finger number, finger symbol or when displaying multiple fingers, arrows may be placed with that.

The direction may usually be downward, not likely in other directions. To represent the depth direction, diagonal arrows might be.

Finger Turn

Finger turning may be depicted by a rotation circle with an arrow. It may be placed near a finger number, finger symbol or when drawing multiple fingers.

Finger turning may coincide with finger moving,
but perhaps more of an emphasis on rotational motion.

Finger Turn Details

Finger turning may happen over a pivotal point where the finger is attached. The fingers might not make full rotations, but partial rotation arcs.

Fingers may pivot over 2 axes:

• Forward up and down
• Sideways facing you (finger wagging)

The thumb may pivot over another 3rd axis (depending on orientation):

• Sideways oriented up and down

Finger wagging may be aided by the friction of the other fingers on the key bed.

Finger Turn (Forward)

Finger Turn (Backward)

Finger Turn (Forward / Backward)

Finger Turn (Right / Looking Down)

Finger Turn (Left / Looking Down)

Finger Turn (Right & Left / Looking Down)

Finger Turn (Right / Looking Forward / Thumb Only)

Finger Turn (Left / Looking Forward / Thumb Only)

Finger Turn (Right & Left / Looking Forward / Thumb Only)

Finger Spread

Moving fingers wider away from each other stretching. Might be displayed with an arrow going two ways. It may be placed near a finger number, symbol or when displaying multiple fingers.

Finger spread (with number)

Finger spread (with symbol)

Finger spread (between finger numbers)

Finger spread (3 fingers, left finger)

Finger spread (3 finger / between left / middle finger)

Finger spread (3 fingers / between middle / right finger)

Finger spread (3 fingers / right finger)

Finger Stress

Tense all around, keeping in a fixed position with force. May be displayed with angular brackets > < around it to represent force. Inversely, keeping it loose may be expressed with wiggly symbols ‘ ’. These symbols might be used around finger numbers, finger symbols or when displaying multiple symbols.

Tight Fingers	Loose Fingers

Composite examples:

Finger Enunciation

To express how enunciated fingers might move, symbols for nuance might be used.

	Move fingers restfully
	Move fingers slightly
	Move fingers normally
	Move fingers exaggerated

Finger Switch

	Switch finger (in place)	Part of existing fingering notation.
	Switch finger (at different times)	At different times same key with different fingers.

Wrist

Wrist Position

The wrist might be positioned in different ways. Closer to the keys with flatter fingers, or with wrist placed higher, fingers hanging down. These kinds of things may be expressed as follows:

	With flat fingers		Pronounced		Curved		High
	Tilted (flat fingers)		Tilted (pronounced)		Tilted (curved)		Tilted (high)

Wrist Stationary

To express holding the wrist stationary, lines might be placed above or below a wrist symbol, or at the sides or top or bottom. A perspective effect is attempted to be used to distinguish these.

	Stationary (left-right)		Stationary (forward / backward)		Stationary (up / down)		Stationary (composite)

Wrist Move

To express moving the wrist, arrows may be placed near a wrist symbol. For the depth direction, diagonal arrows might be used to depict a certain perspective projection.

	Wrist move (left)		Wrist move (right)		Wrist move (right and left)
	Wrist move (down)		Wrist move (up / down)		Wrist move (up)
	Wrist move (forward)		Wrist move (backward)		Wrist move (forward / backward)

These one-sided wrist moves may be similar to wrist turning:

	Wrist move (down / left side)		Wrist move (up / left side)		Wrist move (up / down / left side)
	Wrist move (down / right side)		Wrist move (up / right side)		Wrist move (up / down / right side)
	Wrist move (forward / right side)		Wrist move (backward / right side)		Wrist move (forward / backward / right side)
	Wrist move (forward / backward / left side)		Wrist move (backward / left side)		Wrist move (forward / backward / left side)

A composite picture, to show some flexibility:

	Wrist move (composite)

Wrist Press

May be usually downward, not likely in other directions.

	Wrist press (variation 1)		Wrist press (variation 2)
	Wrist press (right)		Wrist press (left)

Wrist Turn

Wrist turn (right / looking forward / ‘pivot’)
Wrist turn (left / looking forward / ‘pivot’)
wrist turn (right & left / looking forward / ‘pivot’)
wrist turn (right / looking down)
wrist turn (left / looking down)
wrist turn (right & left / looking down)
Wrist turn (forward) / ‘flap’
Wrist turn (backward) / ‘flap’
Wrist turn (forward and backward) / ‘flap’

Implicit Wrist Turn

Wrist symbols might be optional for wrist turning.

	Implicit wrist turn (right / looking forward / ‘pivot’)		Implicit wrist turn (left / looking forward / ‘pivot’)		Implicit wrist turn (right & left / looking forward / ‘pivot’)
	Implicit wrist turn (right / looking down)		Implicit wrist turn (left / looking down)		Implicit wrist turn (right & left / looking down)
	Implicit wrist turn (forward / ‘flap’)		Implicit wrist turn (backward / ‘flap’)		Implicit wrist turn (forward & backward / ‘flap’)

Wrist Stress

(Combined with wrist positions.)

Wrist tight (flat fingers)
Wrist loose (flat fingers)
Wrist tight (pronounced)
Wrist loose (pronounced)
Wrist tight (curved)
Wrist loose (curved)
Wrist tight (high)
Wrist loose (high)

Arm

Arm Position Suggestions

	Arm position (diagonal in / torso in front of right hand)
	Arm position (diagonal in / far reaching)
	Arm position (forward / elbow tucked in)
	Arm position (rather unusual / upper arm forward, fore arm straight in)
	Arm position (rather unusual / upper arm forward, fore arm in / backward)

Lower Arm

Lower Arm Position

The upper arm is assumed to be hanging downward.

Lower Arm 1D Directions

Forward
Up		Down
In		Out

Lower Arm 2D-Diagonals

Forward-up		Forward-down
Forward-in		Forward-out
Up-out		Down-out
Up-in		Down-in

Lower Arm 3D-Diagonals

Forward-up-in		Forward-up-out
Forward-down-in		Forward-down-out

Lower Arm Backward

Backward
Backward-out		Backward-in
Backward-down		Backward-up
Backward-down-out		Backward-down-in
Backward-up-out		Backward-up-in

Upper Arm

Upper Arm Position

Upper Arm 1D Directions

Upper arm forward (lower arm forward)	Upper arm up (lower arm up)	Upper arm down (lower arm forward)
Upper arm in (lower arm up)	Upper arm out (lower arm out)	(lower arm forward)

Upper Arm 2D-Diagonals

Upper arm forward-up (lower arm forward-up)	(lower arm down)	(lower arm down-in)
Upper arm forward-down (lower arm forward-down)	(lower arm forward-up)
Upper arm forward-in (lower arm forward-in)	(lower arm in)
Upper arm forward-out (lower arm forward)	(lower arm forward-in)
Upper arm up-out (lower arm up-out)	(lower arm down-out) (difficult, monkey arms)	Upper arm down-out (lower arm forward)
Upper arm up-in (lower arm up-in) (over face)	(lower arm in)	Upper arm down-in (lower arm forward)

Upper Arm 3D-Diagonals

Upper arm forward-up-in (lower arm forward-up-in)	Upper arm forward-up-out (lower arm forward)
Upper arm forward-down-in (lower arm forward-in)	(lower arm forward-down-in)	Upper arm forward-down-out (lower arm forward)

Upper Arm Backward

Upper arm backward (lower arm down)	(lower arm backward)	(lower arm forward)
Upper arm backward-out (lower arm down)	Upper arm backward-in (lower arm in / painful perhaps)
Upper arm backward-down (lower arm forward)	Upper arm backward-up (lower arm down / painful perhaps)
Upper arm backward-down-out (lower arm forward)	(lower arm down)	Upper arm backward-down-in (lower arm down) (quite a stretch)
Upper arm backward-up-out (lower arm down) (quite a stretch)	Upper arm backward-up-in (lower arm backward-up-in) (may be impossible)

Upper Arm Forward + Lower Arm 1D Directions

Lower arm forward
Lower arm up	Lower arm down (bit painful perhaps)
Lower arm in	Lower arm out (may be impossible)

Upper Arm Forward + Lower Arm 2D-Diagonals

Lower arm forward-up	Lower arm forward-down (bit painful perhaps)
Lower arm forward-in	Lower arm forward-out (bit of a stretch)
Lower arm up-out	Lower arm down-out (may be impossible)
Lower arm up-in	Lower arm down-in

Upper Arm Forward + Lower Arm 3D-Diagonals

Lower arm forward-up-in	Lower arm forward-up-out (bit of a stretch)
Lower arm forward-down-in	Lower arm forward-down-out (may be impossible)

Upper Arm Forward + Lower Arm Backward

Lower arm backward
Lower arm backward-out (bit of a stretch)	Lower arm backward-in
Lower arm backward-down	Lower arm backward-up
Lower arm backward-down-out (may be impossible)	Lower arm backward-down-in
Lower arm backward-up-out	Lower arm backward-up-in (may touch your nose)

Torso

	Torso (+ arms)
	Torso sway (right)
	Torso sway (left)
	Torso tilt forward
	Torso tilt backward
	Torso turn sideways (back and legs)

Some Fingers Deeper In Keys

3 fingers:

	Flat Fingers	Pronounced Fingers	Curved Fingers
Mid finger deeper in keys
Outer fingers deeper in keys
Right finger deeper in keys

4 fingers:

	Flat / outer fingers deeper in keys
	Curved / outer fingers deeper in keys
	Curved / 3rd finger deeper in keys

Tension & Release

	Reach sideways	Then let go, move hand back.
	Reach sideways	Then let go, move hand back.
	Spread	Spreading fingers wider. But trying to release soon.
	Reach forward	If arpeggiated, might prefer crossing over instead.
	Reach backward	If arpeggiated, might prefer crossing over instead.
	Spread diagonally	Composite of spread sideways and reach forward.
	Arm press down	Pressure coming out of the arm.
	Hand resting on keys
	Hand resting on lap

Jumps

	Hand upward (right view)
	Hand upward (left view)
	Gravity assist (right view)	Falling down with gravity.
	Gravity assist (left view)	Falling down with gravity.
	Bowy jump (sideways)
	Controlled jump (sideways)	Though grace might desire a bowy move, a jump may be rather big, and might need some control, so perhaps move toward first, then press.

Composite Examples

To demonstrate some possibilities for flexibility.

	Fall in and then raise out of key
	3 fingers: flat, pronounced and curved
	Curved wrist flapping, mid finger pressed
	Curved wrist hopping. 1st and last note pressed. Middle note moved forward, pressed with 3rd finger.

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