Small-handed Pianists. Psychological impact and self-efficacy

Marta Fernández

About this exposition

The realization that the size of my hands could be a limiting factor for my piano playing came up in my mind many years ago. I developed this research when I realized that I began to focus my practice on the merely “technical” aspect and was leaving musicality aside. There is a striking shortage of publications on piano technique for small hands and even worse, there is no specific literature at all about their mental well-being. As a pianist with small hands I am confronted, among other problems, by self-interference, doubts and fears about my own ability, worries about self-image and feelings that things are out of my control. Therefore, the aim of this research was to understand the mental aspect of being a small-handed pianist. During my research, I gradually implemented new quality practice techniques into my daily routines. This research shows my learning process through recordings of me studying and analysis of my feelings experienced in performances. My aim was to gain self-efficacy and confidence, and in general to develop a growth mindset. It is indispensable for musicians to understand their insecurities, and to allow themselves to accept them. Learning to deal with the technical aspects of small-handedness is relevant. However, this research pointed out that in addition to this, self-efficacy can be boosted by working on it daily through quality practice techniques. Moreover, it showed that it helps to consider technique and musicality as a unity, rather than as separate domains.

type	research exposition
keywords	small-handedness, piano, ergonomy, psychology, self-efficacy, quality practice
date	21/11/2022
published	19/07/2023
last modified	19/07/2023
status	limited publication
copyright	Marta Fernández Mateos
license	CC BY-NC-ND
language	English
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/1826186/1826187
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	3. Internal publication

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usages	picture

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usages	picture

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Small-handed Pianists. Psychological impact and self-efficacy (2023)

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