Skip to main content

Piano Finger Training

The piano is a versatile instrument that takes years to master.

Finger independence is a fundamental goal all pianists strive to achieve. It is possible to accomplish this goal in several ways with specific exercises that strengthen the fingers and build dexterity. A pianist must have complete control over their fingers to make this possible. It is possible to develop finger independence without resorting to the sort of experimentation pianist and composer Robert Schumann resorted to with the device he designed to increase his finger control.

Hanon Exercises


The Hanon method, a complete method for developing virtuosity created by Charles-Louis Hanon is a bible among pianists. These exercises isolate each finger to develop strength and independence. With 60 total exercises, pianists develop strong finger independence essential to the improvement of playing technique. Practice each exercise slowly, at first, at a rate of 52 beats per minute, then accelerate to the recommended tempo listed for each exercise.

Five-Finger Drill


The five-finger drill is a basic drill requiring very little piano ability. Start with the right hand on middle C. Keep each finger on top of the white keys so there is one finger per key on C, D, E, F, and G. Then, slowly lower the thumb to play C without moving any other finger. Continue doing this with each finger and then play the same notes with the left hand. This exercise will help you develop the ability to move specific fingers completely independently of other fingers.

Musical Scales


The Hanon method comes with a complete list of major and minor scales coupled with the correct fingerings. Use the fingerings included with each scale to develop your ability to move quickly across the piano. The fingerings serve a crucial role since they train the fingers to play commonly used patterns in music. If you have trouble playing scales hands together start by playing each hand separately. Once you memorize the pattern for hands-separate, slowly play the scales hands together. Even if it takes you five seconds per note, you will eventually develop the skill to play scales quickly.

Arpeggios


Arpeggios are skips on the piano that outline chords. Each note of an arpeggio will be a third followed by a second for seventh chords and a fourth for triads. Learning to play arpeggios, without looking at the keyboard, will help you improve your sense of the keys of the piano. Aim to learn all your music without resorting to looking at the piano for visual cues. This will greatly increase your familiarity with the instrument and improve your ability to sight-read.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...

Sunday Stories: The Power of Audiation in Music Composition

Happy Sunday! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of audiation in music composition and share an inspiring story about a composer who mastered this skill. Audiation, the ability to hear and understand music in your mind, is a crucial tool for composers, enabling them to bring their musical ideas to life with greater detail and precision. What is Audiation? Audiation is the process of hearing and comprehending music in your mind without any external sound. It is similar to thinking in a language, where you can understand and manipulate words and sentences internally.  For composers, audiation is an essential skill that allows them to imagine, develop, and refine their musical ideas before they are played or written down 1 . The Benefits of Audiation for Composers 1. Enhanced Musical Understanding Audiation helps composers develop a deeper understanding of music. By hearing and analyzing music internally, they can grasp the relationships between different musical elements, ...

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...