Glissando

a glissando technique acquired many years ago from Russian and Greek pianists :

• with either hand firmly clenched, place four well-rounded fingers with all four nails evenly touching the white keys
• run either hand up and down the keyboard over 2 or 3 octaves silently
• repeat this noiseless glissando, depressing the lowest (ascending) or highest (descending) notes thus achieving a painless pianissimo glissando
• the deeper the pressure the greater the dynamic
• this can also work with the black keys
• and at any tempo
• some situations improve by performing the first and/or last glissando note with the other hand
• once mastered, to protect one’s nails, it is prudent to mainly mime in rehearsal