PRACTICE TIPS #11: "Fine Sensations of the Fingertips"

[Brent Hugh <bhugh@griffon.mwsc.edu>]

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PRACTICE TIPS #11: "Fine Sensations of the Fingertips"

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This week's tip is again from George Kochevitsky's book, _The Art of Piano 

Playing: A Scientific Approach_:



"Some piano teachers of the past attributed special significance to the 

fine sensations in the fingertips, although they were not aware of the 

physiological value of these sensations.



"Practicing legato passages with staccato touch will 'engrave more firmly 

on your memory the order in which the notes (and the fingers which produce 

those notes) follow each other.' It will also sharpen proprioceptive 

sensations from the more distinct activity of fingers. This practicing must 

he finger staccato as distinct from hand staccato or forearm staccato. Soft 

playing should prevail, since in forte the unavoidable participation of 

upper parts of the playing apparatus (big muscles) would overshadow finer 

finger sensations."



["Proprioceptive sensations", by the way, are simply the sensations that 

tell us where the different parts of our bodies--fingers, hands, arms, 

legs, head, etc.--are in space and what they are doing.  These sensations 

play a big part in our ability to play the piano.]



"Therefore, among several varieties of practice for finger articulation, 

the following is one of the best: first, fingers are prepared on the keys 

to be pressed. Each finger then presses with a light downward movement 

only, never leaving its key. (Thus the size of finger movement is equal to 

the depth of the key.) And playing proceeds very slowly, pianissimo, with 

the whole attention concentrated on fingertips. The downward movement of 

one finger must be synchronized with the movement of the preceding finger 

as it lets its key rise. At the slightest sensation of fatigue in the upper 

parts of the arm, this practicing should he stopped. (It is rather hard to 

hold the weight of the forearm without support.) By experimenting, the 

proper balance will be found, so that longer sections and eventually a 

whole study or piece can be played in this way. Such practicing is tiring 

to our central nervous system, as it requires finest tonal control along 

with control over the accompanying sensations, and this is especially hard 

in pianissimo. But the consequence of such practicing is a feeling of 

strength in the fingers. This result would be surprising to the 

representatives of the old finger school. Of course it is not muscle, but 

nerve command over the fingers that is being strengthened!"



Happy Practicing!



--Brent



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PRACTICE TIPS is by pianist, teacher, composer, and internet nerd

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