Fingers?

So, a different finger discussion. I have recently started teaching two small children. Normally, the average age of my students is about 12; these kids are much younger. When I show them how to press the keys properly, I see that their fingers cannot hold the arch shape - they collapse at the second joint. Are there strengthening exercises that can help with that? Can someone recommend a book on teaching proper technique to very small kids? They're wonderful children, and they're learning fast, but this is very hard for them.

From a russian teacher : give the kids a baloon and let them push the fingers into it. Take the baloon and put it in a large bowl filled with water. Let the kids push the balloon into the water with the pressure of their fingers. Perhaps you could use a soft sponge : the kids would have to 'play' into the sponge. Of course this is 'not musically' practicing, but will help strengthen the fingers. Also you could use the Leschetizky method : at the beginning there is a paragraph suggesting how to exercise the 'key depressing' in 4 movements. Boring, not exciting , but perhaps it helps. One more thing : grasping/scratching movemets might help. Hold you palm open, upwards , and ask the kid to make a cat claw and scratch you hand (watch that the finger joints our out, not collapsed). His hand would move from the wrist (downwards) while his fingernails would leave bleeding marks on your palm (at least this would be the impression). You'll have to do much more work with the fifth finger . to make it move vertically and not just lay down laterally.

Best luck,

Michel de NostreDame

PS. 'Clay' (plasteline) that kids play with, might be helpful.

Hi,

Have a look at Technic Tales (books 1 and 2) by Louise Robyn. That's where I learned finger technique years ago (30 years ago to be exact) and they are still in print. I highly recommend them. Check out:
http://www.piano-pal.com/robyn.htm

Hope this helps.

Thanks! I'll definitely try all of the above.

Hi,

Very often the collapsing fingers can be lessened by having the student sit a bit lower and play with a lower wrist position. Try it yourself. A high wrist encourages playing on the fingertips. Instead of using finger weight to play, the young student will 'brush' the white keys especially and encourage the fingers to 'collapse'.

I had a younster years ago who had this exact problem. By changing her seating and wrist position she became quite the player. Degree from Oberlin and is currently a college level teacher. Damion Bertram, pianist, conductor

I gave children small, spongy balls to squeeze, telling them to squeeze the ball with the tips of their fingers. Also had them put their fingertips on a firm surface, thinking of them as 'spider legs' and do 'spider push-ups' - touch the palm to the surface and back up while keeping the fingertips in place.

Susan