Exercises for Piano Players

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2010 | By Kay Ireland

Photo Caption Start

yor piano pra!ti!e "ith #in$er e%er!ises& Photo Credit

'piteri(a$es)Photos&!o()*etty I(a$es

I# yo+re an avid piano player, then yo no" ho" !ra(ped yor #in$ers !an -e!o(e

"hen playin$ lon$er pie!es& .ven -e$inner players (ay #ind their hands #eel #ati$ed

a#ter pra!ti!in$ s!ales and si(ple pie!es& /he trth is that the -est and -ri$htest piano

 players play s!ales, stret!h their hands and pra!ti!e pla!e(ent to eep their #in$ers

li(-er& /ry the sa(e to see ho" it a##e!ts yor !o(#ort level and per#or(an!e&

Finger Stretches

Be#ore yo even lay yor #in$ers on the eys, stret!h yor #in$ers to "ar( p the

(s!les so they are (ore li(-er and i! "hile playin$& 'st lie the rest o# yor

 -ody, yor #in$ers !an -e!o(e sti## i# not properly "ar(ed p& Be$in -y !losin$ yor

#in$ers into ti$ht #ists, holdin$ #or three se!onds and releasin$& Co(plete this stret!h

several ti(es& /hen -end ea!h #in$er individally to help #oster -etter #in$er

independen!e "hile playin$& inally, r- yor hands to$ether so yor (s!les are

"ar( and yo+re ready to play&

 

Slow Scales

.ven the (ost a!!o(plished piano player pra!ti!es s!ales& S!ales are one o# the (ost

essential !o(ponents o# piano playin$, -e!ase the (ove(ents o# yor #in$ers alon$

the eys are -asi! !ornerstones o# playin$& Start -y layin$ yor #in$ers on the eys,

"ith the th(- o# yor ri$ht hand on (iddle C& Set yor (etrono(e to a slo" and

(ana$ea-le pa!e, and -e$in rnnin$ #ivenote s!ales, a!!ordin$ to

Piano.d!ation&or$& 3s yor #in$ers li(-er p, add yor le#t hand and speed p the

(etrono(e& /ry ei$htnote s!ales as yo i(prove and $et ready to play a pie!e&

 

Finger Independence

3nother i(portant !o(ponent o# piano playin$ is learnin$ #in$er independen!e& I#

yo+re ne" to playin$ piano, yo no" ho" instin!tal it is to (ove yor #in$ers at

the sa(e ti(e& Bt "hen playin$ pie!es, yo+ll need yor #in$ers to "or

independently o# one another& Lay yor hands on the eys, "ith yor ri$ht th(- on

(iddle C& /hen try playin$ s!ales "ith yor ri$ht hand "hile yor le#t hands -lo!s

ot, or holds do"n, three notes o# yor !hoi!e, a!!ordin$ to Pianonda(entals&!o(&

Co(plete several s!ales -e#ore s"it!hin$ to playin$ s!ales "ith yor le#t hand&

Finger Lifts

or the (ost e##e!tive se o# yor (s!les to !reate sond, yor #in$ers (st -e

raised hi$h eno$h to !reate a ri!h sond #ro( the piano as yo (ove the( s"i#tly

a!ross the eys& 4or rin$ #in$er (ay -e espe!ially !hallen$in$& Pra!ti!e #in$er li#ts

 -y layin$ yor hands on the eys and li#tin$ ea!h #in$er rapidly -e#ore pla!in$ a

deli-erate and !ontrolled #in$er -a! pon the eys& 4or rin$ #in$er !an only -e

li#ted hi$h eno$h to depress the eys a$ain, -t it !an "ar( p the #n!tion o# yor

#in$ers -e#ore yo -e$in to play&