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I'm still playing like an avocado but improving, it's a process not an event.

TL;DR: To get the correct circular motion, depress the keys using the weight of your hand, not the muscles in your finger. You are resting your hand on the key when you press it. Then, to press the next key, lift the current finger while transferring the weight of your hand to the next finger. The circular motion emerges naturally from this process, as you must rotate your wrist as you transfer weight from one finger to the next.

I was having trouble understanding both the nature of the circular motion and the reason behind it, but I stumbled on a video that unintentionally explained it for me. It's from Denis Zhdanov and titled "What every Beginner MUST know about Piano Technique". Starting at about 6 minutes and 35 seconds, Denis mentions holding an orange and then goes on to explain that as you play each note, you should be transferring the weight of your hand from one finger to the next. As I watched him demonstrate this transfer of weight, I realized that he was relaxing his hand the way that Sebok did. That's when I realized that the circular motion you described must be connected to the transfer of weight that he described. I tried the circular motion again, but this time I made sure to rest my hand on the key (through the active finger) to depress it, then lift that finger while slightly turning my wrist to transfer the weight to the next finger. I was immediately able to make the correct circular motion with my wrist while playing up and down a five finger scale!

I see in the transcript that you did try to explain the transfer of weight, but for whatever reason the bridge analogy didn't work for me. I hope this comment helps others understand how to make the correct circular motion.

you know whats funny, ive been playing piano for around 30yrs and professionally for 10, and ive never heard this being explained so simply, ive been doing it naturally on some pieces but honestly  looking at some of the pieces ive played before and relooking at them with more intention i have found this to be very useful to keep in mind especially on tiring arpeggios or repeating patterns, going to try to be more deliberate in incorporating this into sections of music where its very applicable going forward

At Chethams I was taught to imagine weight in your elbow "leading" your wrist so the weight is always on the note youre playing, so youre essentially playing with your elbow as much as you do with your wrist and fingers, in all these years I NEVER had a single wrist injury playing piano

Yes, very true. It's actually hard to teach students this way - less effort=better technique.

I was fortunate to get some preliminary instruction in the technique Dorothy Taubman invented. Despite the hyperbole her technique has been conducive not only to my playing but overall health. The first thing pianists need to understand is velocity, not weight, produces greater or lesser sound. We press faster or slower, not harder or softer. We r dealing with mass, not weight

Grazie mille per questa lezione.

WONDERFUL explanation! I had a master piano teacher years ago show me this technique, but it was only one lesson and I just didn't get it. But your explanation made it all so very clear! You play the piano with your WHOLE BODY! Not just your fingers! D'OH! Why didn't I know this after 30 years of playing and PAIN and problems???? THANK YOU!!!!

I remember watching this on Dutch television. What a master.

Wow the initial hook for this video was nothing short of Genius!

Now I understand what my teacher tried to explain me. It really helps!

I'm so glad I clicked here. I'm 64 and trying to self teach. Being older I already feel symptoms in my arms and hands. I practice other instruments so want to avoid injury. Glad to get this advice early on piano.

Very insightful lesson.Thanks!

You explained this technique so clearly. That's so helpful. Thank you so much! 🙂 I liked your way of explaining things so much that I subscribed immediately so I can learn even more from you. Best regards from Germany👍🏻

Sebok! I loved his master classes at IU!!!!

This has just made me finish A piece I’ve been learning for almost 6 months and I couldn’t get the tempo right. Thanks for this!

In my opinion, the right hand is not doing the opposite. It's doing the exact same thing, it's the piano that's sounding opposite. Both hands go over from pink to thumb and under from thumb to pink.

Super intuitive! I am feeling the step up immediately. If only I play the piano…

Finally I found the best teacher