Mothers have been known to look at their babies and prophesy a musical future on the strength of long fingers.
If you were not born with long fingers, do not think that you are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning keyboard instruments. Some of the greatest pianists had short fingers. Be encouraged by this quote:
Dr. Charles Burney wrote of Handel:
“His hands were so fat that the knuckles, which usually appear convex, were like those of a child, dimpled or dinted, so as to be rendered concave. His touch was smooth and the tone of the instrument so much cherished that his fingers seemed to grow into the keys. They were so curved and compact when he played that no motion and scarcely the fingers themselves could be discovered.”
Five Finger Exercises
It is important for keyboard players to increase strength in the fourth and fifth fingers which are inherently weak. Simple five finger exercises improve finger control to achieve good legato ( smooth melody lines ) and even tone control.
The simplest five finger exercise is the five note scale e.g. CDEFG ascending and descending, play hands separately and then together. Whilst playing concentrate on evenness of touch, legato (smooth) or staccato (detached). For hands together practice hand ensemble (striking notes simultaneously with left and right hand). More complex five finger exercises are published by composers such as Carl Czerny
Gary Howell DipLCM
For expert piano or keyboard tuition please refer to:
www.garyhowellkeyboardtuition.co.uk
