Working with One Hand when a piano student has an injury to the other

I recall my piano teaching years in California’s Central Valley where I easily counted 10 or more students (usually boys) who had sports injuries. Most often a mom would call about her son’s fractured arm or wrist that was incurred on the playing field–soccer, baseball, or during any number of childhood activities. As a consequence, lessons might be put on hold until a cast was removed. But in a few instances, a pupil would still come to lessons and practice with the uninjured arm/hand. In the case of a functional Left Hand, there was always repertoire specifically tailored to meet the needs of students who had lost the ability to use their Right Hand.

The late Leon Fleisher, pianist, kept up his teaching and performing despite his compromised Right Hand that was diagnosed with focal dystonia. Accordingly, his repertoire became Left Hand focused.

In cases where a young student is less motivated to carry on at the piano due to an injury, a teacher can keep lessons percolating with weekly infusions of theory, keyboard harmony and ear training. These redirects can expand a student’s awareness of music he has studied, providing greater context.

During my years teaching, I’ve also had adults who’ve kept up their lessons during injury and recovery periods. As adjustment, we refocused lessons on the useful hand, while adding sight-reading, theory, and explorations of Solfeggio.

In a recently posted video, I explored the Right Hand in Robert Schumann’s, Op. 68, No. 1 “Melody,” (Album for the Young). This was done to accommodate a student who had reported strain to her Left Hand that might be tied to over-use, (4 hour practice periods) though not yet determined. (My play through below, of “Melody” with both hands, is followed by back tempo Right Hand practice.)

Continuity of lessons, in one form or another during an injury period, carries a benefit to a student’s music learning experience, but flexibility and patience must be woven in, to make it work.

from Arioso7's Blog (Shirley Kirsten)
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2022/09/28/working-with-one-hand-when-a-piano-student-has-an-injury-to-the-other/