Dear Mr. Chappell:

It feels like my hands are too small to play octaves and other wide intervals on the keyboard. I'm young and I know that my hands will grow eventually, but your suggestions or tips would be most welcome!

— Growing Person

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Dear Growing Person:

You can stretch your hands---gently and carefully----as follows:

Put your index fingers on the edge of a table with the other fingers and thumbs hanging down. Don't just touch the tips of the fingers on the edge of the table, put the entire finger on top of the table S-T-R-E-T-C-H between the number 2 and 3 fingers by gently pushing down. Now switch and put the fingers numbers 3, 4, and 5 on the top edge of the table with the index fingers and thumbs hanging down. Stretch between number 2 and 3 fingers again.

Now put fingers 2 and 3 on the table with numbers 4 and 5 and the thumbs hanging down. Stretch. Put 4 and 5 on the table with 2 and 3 and the thumbs hanging down. Stretch.

Now put fingers 2, 3, and 4 on the table with number 5 and the thumbs hanging down. Stretch. Put number 5 on the table with 2, 3, and 4 and the thumbs hanging down. Stretch.

Now put the thumbs on the table with the other fingers hanging down. Stretch. Done.

Do this often and never uncomfortably. See if that helps.

Here is what some people do that you should NEVER do: put the thumb and index finger of one hand between two fingers of the other hand, separate that thumb and index finger, and stretch the two fingers in a sideways direction. Not only is this harmful, but it doesn't really stretch what needs to be stretched.

Good luck.

— J.C.