Re: There is a difference!!!!! (OT)

[Kate Clunies-Ross <goldbergs@TALK21.COM>]

 Anne Chrystine wrote :
>            Now for another difference. I am a short person for my age(and I
> think I've stopped growing:( and I have very small hands. This can be QUITE
> a hinderance,especially when it comes to octaves. I find myself absolutely
> green with envy when I see all these pianists with giant hands that just
> pluck out octave passages and tremolos. Now of course these obstacles can be
> overcome, but it will take longer.

May I ask if it is simply a matter of physical size? OK, I do not play
particularly well, but I remember comparing my stretch to that of my music
teacher whenI was a teenager. He was a guy, with quite long, bony hands.
(Mine are rather short and podgy) But I found I could stretch very nearly as
far as him. It seemed to depend (obviously) on how wide the joints could
spread, not simply on size.
I also remember the same music teacher showing me some photographs of famous
pianists' hands (I think mostly male). The hands were shown at the keyboard,
so that you could get an impression of the size. I was surprised by how
small and compact some seemed, even it they were undoubtedly strong,
muscular, and supple. (Mr Gould's hands were not there!)
But thank you, Anne, I have to admit that when I  posed the question of
gender I actually  wasn't thinking of physical differences! Only of
differences in style, and of mental and emotional approach to the music. But
the physical differences must be there.

Kate