How free and independent is your fourth finger?

The problem and the solution

The problem

This is the finger number convention used in learning piano and keyboard.

Have you observed the Pianists and Keyboardists just running through the keys with ease?

Have you seen the beginners struggling to even press the keys freely and especially using the 4th and 5th fingers?

5th finger is the weakest finger, but it is fairly independent. With consistent practice, we can strengthen this finger.

The 4th finger is bound to the neighboring ‘finger 3’ and ‘finger 5’ by tendons.  This limits the movement of the 4th finger.  Hence less agile and less independent.

The solution

Theodor Leschetizky (1830 – 1915 ), Polish pianist, professor and composer devised an effective exercise to improve the agility of fingers which are weak.

This is the exercise devised by Leschetizky.

Step 1: Place the right-hand fingers 1 to 5 on the notes G to D respectively.  Press all 5 keys at the same time.

Step 2:  Now while pressing the rest of the notes, lift the thumb (Finger number 1). 

Step 3: While pressing the rest of the notes, lift the thumb and press the note G four times.

Step 4: Now change the pressing finger.  Lift the index finger and press the note A (Use finger 2), four times while you hold rest of the notes including the note G with the thumb. 

Step 5: Keep changing the pressing finger till you reach finger 5. 

Step 6: Change to the left hand.  Press G to D with fingers 5 to 1 respectively. Repeat the same exercise.

Practicing this exercise daily for even 5 minutes gives great results within 10 days. Try this yourself.

Happy learning!