Why Your Claire de Lune Chords Sound Disturbed #pianotips

Repeated chords in Claire de Lune are deceptively difficult. They may look simple on the page, but the wrong wrist movement can easily disturb both technique and musical phrasing.

Stop hurting, start playing with confidence
Enroll now:https://helenaun.com/piano-masterclass-registration

In this video, I demonstrate two different ways of playing the repeated chords in Claire de Lune.

In the first example, the wrist movement is too active. While this might feel helpful at first, excessive wrist motion creates instability, breaks the legato line, and interferes with the calm, floating character of the piece.

Over time, this kind of exaggerated movement can also lead to tension and uneven sound.

In the second example, I show the correct approach, where the wrist movement is minimal and controlled, exactly as it should be.

This allows the repeated chords to stay balanced, soft, and connected, preserving the phrasing and color that Claire de Lune requires.

Many pianists struggle with
Repeated chords in Claire de Lune
Too much wrist motion during soft passages
Disturbed phrasing and lack of control
Uneven tone in repeated chord patterns
Feeling tense even in slow, lyrical music

The key is understanding that not all repeated chords require large movements. In impressionistic music like Debussy, efficiency and subtlety are essential.

When the wrist moves only as much as needed, the hand remains stable, the sound stays even, and the musical line flows naturally.

This adjustment helps with
Maintaining calm, fluid phrasing
Producing an even, delicate tone
Reducing unnecessary tension
Improving control at soft dynamics
Preserving the character of Debussy’s writing

Watch closely as I compare the overactive wrist vs minimal wrist motion, so you can clearly see how a small technical change makes a big musical difference.

If Claire de Lune has ever felt uncomfortable, unstable, or musically disrupted in the repeated chord sections, this technique fix may completely change how the passage feels under your hands.

Save this video, try it at the piano, and notice how much calmer and more controlled the chords become.

Hi, I'm Helen Aun! I'm a peak performance coach, Alexander Technique teacher, and business mentor for pianists and piano teachers. With over 25 years of experience as a professional pianist and educator, I help musicians play with confidence and ease, and build successful careers.

What I Do:
Founder of The Helen Aun Institute, dedicated to helping pianists thrive artistically and financially.
Help pianists overcome performance anxiety and physical pain.

Subscribe for tips on peak performance, injury prevention, and business growth tailored for pianists and piano teachers! ????????


#PianoPerformanceTips #AlexanderTechniqueForMusicians #PianoTeacherBusiness #MusicCareerDevelopment #PeakPerformanceCoaching #PianoInjuryPrevention #MusicBusinessStrategies #PianistMindset #PianoTeachingTips #PianoCareerGrowth #MusicianSuccessStories #piano #clairedelune #debussy #pianotechnique #classicalpiano #pianotips #pianopractice #pianolesson #impressionistmusic #pianist #pianoshorts #musicpractice