Finger independence

I'd like to know some excersizes and pieces I can work on to get good finger independence. My dream is to be able to make trills with any desired fingers and not tense up any other fingers while playing some other, so I guess I'd better get started soon :P

Hanon'll help you.

Oh, and the instrument I'm talking about is the piano, just so that you know :P

I'll check out some Hanon, I know I had heard about him before but I forgot his name, so thanks!

There are exercises you can do away from the keyboard. The main finger independence problem is controlling the comprehensive muscle in each arm (flexor digitorum profundis) an extrinsic muscle that controls flexing the top two phalanges of all the fingers. However, it all has to be dealt with including a supple wrist (rotation-wise as well as up and down), arm movement, shoulders, the lot. Quite a big subject. Some hands-on studies deal well with it, others not.

I'm not sure why this in't something you're discussing with your piano teacher.

Well actually I was thinking of asking him, it's just that I haven't had a piano lesson in a few weeks because of some certain issues so I haven't had the time to. I've really only had lessons for two-three months or so I haven't really thought about asking this question before until now. But I wonder if he will be able to give me any more information than given as he is more like a jump in teacher at my music school cause the "real" one is absent from sickness (although she's coming back this fall). And I wonder if even she's got anything much to say about this (of course I could be wrong as I don't know about this because I haven't met her yet).

Anyways, do you know any good resources on those dealings with muscle and so on? I really wanna develop good technique so I don't wanna be doing something wrong so that I could hurt myself.

Hmm, all Hanon did for me was muscle pain and probably wearing down my ligments. Personally, I think you should just find a piece (or compose one) that utilizes such rather than go through mundane exercises.

I do Hanon exercises while I watch movies, has helped my playing a lot. I wouldn't spend a lot of 'active practice time' on it though.

I do Hanon exercises while I watch movies, has helped my playing a lot. I wouldn't spend a lot of 'active practice time' on it though.

Good idea.

I'll do that when I get my Clavinova.

I suppose ideally you should be paying attention the entire time you're practising, but it's better than not playing it...

Good idea.

I'll do that when I get my Clavinova.

I suppose ideally you should be paying attention the entire time you're practising, but it's better than not playing it...

Don't know, Its definitely helped me with not having to look at the keys while I play.

And a clavinova is a bit big to sit on your lap as you lay back on the sofa :happy:

one good exercise is playing this chord with both hands: G#BDFG#

and then strike each finger's key while holding the other fingers down.

something like 20 4th finger, 20 5th, 20, 3rd should be good.

after you suceed (without moving the other fingers) you shouild try two fingers at once ( 3rd and 5th, and 2nd and 4th).

and you should at all time hold your hand curved and the fingers slightly bent (normal hand position)

As a pianist, I can say that Hanon helps a lot, just start at a slow tempo on the metronome and slowly speed up. When you get to the quarter note speeds and you're having trouble, try stopping on every beat. It can take a while, and doing a boatload of slow speeds on those things can be a real pain (I know) but it seriously improves your figures. Schmitt is easier and a lot shorter if you are absolutely sick of Hanon and in need of variety. Together they make up the bulk of my technical exercises.

Just practice every day, and remember, sometimes it can take a while to actually see major improvement,

-Landon