​ Notes from The Music Hub August 10, 2026

Strengthening the Left Hand

One of the things I have done over the course of creating the Piano Accelerator Program in The Music Hub is to write my own pieces to incorporate into the program, along with arrangements of other songs and existing piano pieces.

I just finished compiling the over 70 original pieces I wrote!

I wrote these pieces to address some gaps that I have seen in other beginning piano curricula.

One of the biggest gaps is a lack of emphasis on the left hand.

"Melody" is often wrongly associated with higher pitches.

I'm not sure why this is.

If someone sings soprano in a chorus or flute in the band or violin in the orchestra, they often think that they will "get the melody."

While that is often the case, it is not uncommon for the melody to be in a lower voice.

There are many orchestra pieces where the cellos and basses carry the melody. In pop and rock music, there are as many male singers as female singers (maybe more?)

What is important about melody is not what register it's in (high or low) but, rather, making sure it is prominent.

In more advanced piano music, the left hand often plays the melody. And, if not the melody, at least a very active and technical accompaniment.

Something that can't be done well if the left hand has not developed independence and strength.

In my experience, most method books for beginners treat the left hand as an afterthought. It's "easier" to teach piano so that the RH has the melody and the LH supports it, because most people are right-handed and the RH will thus naturally play louder.

What happens, though, is that the LH remains unchallenged and won't get stronger or become independent. Players won't learn how to "bring out" the melody and force the RH to quiet down and let the LH have its turn!

Learning to play by a chord approach won't fix this problem, because when you play chords, the natural structure will require the LH to play either full chords or a bass line. Neither require dexterity.

There are only two ways to develop LH strength, independence and dexterity: scales and exercises OR LH melodies that give the LH something to do!

I don't know about you, but even though I find scales and exercises important, I'd rather play pieces of music.

Besides, what value is a strong and independent LH unless you have a piece to use it in?

Another reason it's important to have pieces that feature the LH is so that the RH can learn to play quieter.

Both hands need to be able to play expressively at all dynamic levels and eventually be able to handle technical challenges.

I don't think that the LH should be ignored until students get to an advanced level. I believe that the LH should begin "taking the melody" right from the beginning.

And that is why I wrote several LH-dominant pieces among the 70+ I wrote for beginners in the Piano Accelerator Program in the Music Hub.

Check out the following piece. it is Chopin's "Valse brillante", Op. 34, No. 2 in A Minor, played by Arthur Rubenstein. It is one of my personal favorites to play among Chopin's Waltzes. The first section in the piece, which comes back repeatedly, features a LH melody. And not just melody, but ornaments like long trills!

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If you need work on strengthening your left hand, consider joining The Music Hub!

During August, I am opening doors to The Music Hub for people who are already on my email list. You have access for the rest of this month to the beta pricing.

And if you join during this month, your tuition at the beta rate will never go up for as long as you remain a member!

Not only that, but you can try out The Music Hub for FREE for 14 days before deciding!

Time is running out for a 2-week FREE trial.

Please contact me by responding to this email if you have any questions or concerns!

Happy Music Making!

Heather Niemi Savage, composer, pianist & educator

Founder of The Music Hub