If your fingers are stiff, try soaking them in warm water; this is a trick that concert pianists use to improve their circulation.
Have fun with the Boat Song!
playing a long trill by: Ido from www.piano-play-it.com
Hi Monique, The trill in the Venetian Boat song is definitely a long one.
Playing a trill fast requires much practice. The secret is to practice constantly, slowly increasing the tempo.
Usually a trill is played with the 2nd and 3rd fingers. When beginning practicing playing trills I recommend playing 4 notes only - 3232. Play these notes slowly, and gradually increase the tempo. A metronome might be helpful during your gradual progress while keeping the rhythm stable.
When you feel comfortable you can add two more notes and start playing 323232. As in the first step, start slowly and gradually increase your tempo. When you feel comfortable with the 323232 you can add two more notes and play 32323232, and so on.
Practicing tips: Keep your body, hands and fingers loose. Being relaxed will help you very much to obtain good results. Try the trill by playing on various keys - a white key with another white key, a black one with a white one, and two black keys. Take breaks while practicing.