Why Practicing with Raised Fingers Is Essential

[@JS45678]

I am so guilty as a first year player at advanced age with playing my scales too fast, too sloppy, and not lifting fingers up exactly as shown. Not sure why I tend to want to play too fast but maybe impatience. Thank you for this much needed video in bringing this long standing issue to light and now I’m going to focus on slowing things down and doing it much better. Thank You again for this excellent tutorial AND showing this on that absolutely gorgeous piano. I love seeing those hammers moving, how neat!

[@waihoong11]

Thank you. I'm an organist. I spend a lot of time thinking more about when to release the notes than hitting them.

[@aBachwardsfellow]

Hi Robert - so - hmmmm ... you're very clear that this is a practice-only approach and to be abandoned when actually playing. My problem was that I was essentially playing with high fingers for the first 3 - 4 years of piano (high school and early college) which worked fairly well since I was studying mostly Bach and Beethoven. However, as I began moving into Brahms and Chopin I hit a wall - really hard. I had the good fortune to study with a piano teacher who correctly diagnosed the issue and gently said, "now what you need to do is learn how to play one finger correctly". He completely re-built my technic - literally starting with one finger - into Theodor Leschetizky's "close touch" which has made a tremendous improvement ever since! It took several months just to get a consistent foundation laid and extinguish the old technical habits, and close to a year before it approached being second-nature. I still specifically practice exercises to re-enforce the close touch, relaxation, and control. I would LOVE to see you gives us a presentation on learning, practicing, and performing using Leschetizky's "close touch". PS - THANK YOU! For all the wonderful tips you share - ALWAYS! helpful and informative - :-)

[@RickPotvin54]

wow, great delivery Robert-- first time visitor here. I'm a fellow instructor looking at what you all are doing to teach online and figuring out how to proceed. the raised fingers practise via bach is excellent... I have a student that can use this and will point her to this video... I'm a media-observer-- I pay attention to how things are communicated... and you've got the gift-- will be watching further uploads.

[@LeCheileMusic]

I hadn’t thought of applying this to Bach etc, but it makes perfect sense. Thank you 😊🎶

[@armani3234]

Thank you for your time. This is brilliant!

[@rafaelgomez1989]

Love your CHANNEL...and your SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE way of conveying knowledge !!!

[@richsw]

This is such a great tip when learning or slow practicing contrapuntal music.

[@kristinamusik7414]

Good tip for me I need this.

[@mznewman7]

Thank you for this valuable information.

[@HelderGriff]

Wow, I just started to raise my fingers a couple of days ago because I thought it would give me more control and now I know it does help me learn better 😶

[@arthouston7361]

I have to try this.

[@alessandrobonacchi2619]

Subscribed after two seconds of video.... GRAZIE!!!!

[@janedoe5229]

Thank you. I am teaching myself. This is very helpful. :)

[@LastCast2011]

nice, excellent info!

[@SidJ8300]

Thank you very much, Sir .. 😊

[@wbiro]

Feels good.

[@duanespiano]

Thank you so much!

[@jasonlenthe8902]

Robert, where does one purchase a grand piano action hooked up to a synthesizer?

[@davidhecker83]

Kawai VPC1

[@clothearednincompoop]

@@davidhecker83 Technically speaking not a grand piano action. Some of the actual options would be Yamaha AvantGrand and Kawai Novus (apart from the upright models of course) and something from Alpha Pianos.

[@alanrt63]

Look for what is referred to as Graded / Hammer Weighted Action where keys feel heavier in bass progressively to lighter as go further up. Various keyboards have this in their nicer models. Korg has keyboards with this called RH3, Yamaha has it worth GHS, Kawai has RHC, Casio, Kurzweil, etc., have this also.

[@johncip]

there are add-on kits that you can retrofit with -- I've seen one called PNOscan but I'm sure there are others as well. my guess is that he combined one of these with an existing grand action. (though as others have said, there are hybrid pianos that come out of the box like this and can be used for silent practice.)

[@vegknitter]

An excellent idea, thank you x

[@Ernestasish]

Very interesting technique. I doubt that it can be applied to every piece at the same extend as you've shown in the video with the Bach piece. Still going to put this into my practicing repertoire. Thanks for this tip.

[@raleedy]

When I raise my fingers, and keep them raised, I don't play any wrong notes. Or notes.

[@philbarone4603]

You’re the best Robert, thank you. What would you suggest to someone with numb hands who have had two surgeries, numerous therapies and have been to two teachers who specialize in technique?

[@mariagheorghe7139]

Lang Lang himself made a video about scales demonstrating the raised finger but without going into the reasoning behind this way of practicing.

[@townnet]

Hi, is ok to practice raised finger on flat surface?

[@Alwpiano]

I can learn a great deal from your wealth of experience. I feel like playing the piano was natural for me from the beginning (2002). Not forced. As a kid, my keyboard teacher had only shown us Middle C plus 4 or 5 notes either side. I wanted to learn Mozart Alla Turca. I read a book about the line, space, line, space pattern and then the sharps and flats section. I knew there were parts I would "run out of fingers" so I invented my own fingering patterns without much thought. I didn't know a great deal about rhythm at this point, but I knew the piece audibly in my head. That way, I learned about the half notes, quarter notes etc in a fun way rather than a textbook, forced kind of way. I used to have lessons on an upright once a week and then return to my unweighted keyboard at home. Recently, I got myself a fully weighted digital piano and love it. Oh did I have a shock when attempting Liszt on the weighted keys, having spent months on the unweighted. There was a time that I hadn't even the dexterity to play some of Liszt's musical phrases on the unweighted, never mind weighted. Three months down the line, all of that has changed. I wonder, will the keys be even tighter again if I approach an upright or grand piano? I'm hoping the resistance is equivalent to my digital.

[@snailgirl917]

What if I can't for the life of me lift my ring finger without also lifting my pinky? is that still ok? thank you for your informational video!

[@johanna6050]

I would equate this to using weights on a bat during batting practice.

[@switchlaserflip9243]

you should listen better lol

[@musiclover3470]

Hi, Robert. Take out the action and make a new electronic piano is a great idea for not disturbing neighbors when we practice. Where did you buy the components, especially the sensors and central IC part? Thanks!

[@Delectatio]

So, you use VSTs now, Robert:)?

[@HaydenPianoCovers]

First time I have been early, I am glad

[@minka866]

What kind of piano is that one?

[@kevind3094]

What kind of piano is that?

[@nicolasrivera1]

replying so I can know too when someone answers

[@DanielSilva-gc4xz]

Hybrid

[@bravissimomusic2978]

Really want to get one for my action, it seems like a very good way to practice without breaking the string😀

[@paullebon323]

Does Robert ever address that crazy midi controller?

[@yudipitre5720]

Thank you so much I am a beginner I have experience everything you said . From shoulder, fingers , arms ,back discomfort and pain and I notice that I tighten my stomach muscles and shoulders even breathing. Slowly I have been catching myself doing it. Any other advise I greatly would appreciate from a professional like you.

[@LivingPianosVideos]

There are well over 1,000 videos with accompanying articles you can search through using keywords here: livingpianos.com/blog/ Please let me know any subjects you can't find. It could be used in a future video!

[@yudipitre5720]

@@LivingPianosVideos Thank you 😊

[@dibaldgyfm9933]

Where did you put the strings and the dampers? ❤

[@rogercarroll2551]

Chopin called fingers three and four "Siamese Twins" which cannot be separated (anatomy will verify this). The "independence" you get is minimal. Live with the fact and work with it as best you can. NEVER do anything that strains the fingers, any of them. E major is the scale most natural to the human hand. C major is the most unnatural (Horowitz said it was one of the hardest things to play at the piano). Hanon is useful IF you transpose into other major keys; white keys only is a waste of time.

[@31416]

Injuries, even in practicing. Come on!

[@Megan19851]

You'd have to try pretty hard to injure yourself doing this. This technique would be very beneficial to many beginners who have trouble with finger independence. Obviously they will need to be supervised.

[@guillermocastillon9362]

Wtf. NO. There is absolutely no reason to practice something you’ll literally never use while performing. Also, finger independence is a myth. All fingers move slightly while the others are playing. This is how thousands of pianists get injured. NO JUST NO

[@johnybrug5406]

I'll use my feet if my fingers are worn out 🤣

[@quananginh9446]

I hope the dislike count stays zero for this video

[@ericrakestraw664]

Too late.