When I was growing up, I would listen to some of the great pianists such as Horowitz and Rubinstein. I would also listen to some of the pianists from the early 20th century such as Hoffman, Rachmaninoff, and Joseph Levine. I was always so impressed with the pristine finger work. It almost would sound like a string of jewels because of the evenness of the notes, and I always wondered how to achieve that sound. So today’s show is about how to achieve brilliant finger work.
I’m going to regress a little bit more. When I first started studying the piano with my father Morton Estrin, he showed me how to practice scales with raised fingers and often times my students ask me, “Why do I have to raise my fingers?” Let me show you what I’m talking about. With slow scale practice, it’s important for strength to raise the fingers. You may wonder why you would ever want to play that way because obviously when you play quickly, you don’t have time to raise your fingers. The secret to getting the evenness in your scale work and fast finger passages is the release of notes.
For example, if you were to put your hand on a flat surface and just try to lift one finger, some of them are pretty hard to lift. Lift your fourth finger with your hands on a flat surface, and it’s very hard. It’s actually the release of notes that takes more strength than the pushing down of notes! So to strengthen and then to release is the reason for practicing slowly with raised fingers so you’ll practice the release of each note and that will lead to the pristine beauty you can get in fast finger work.
That is one of the secrets for achieving beautiful clarity in your playing. There are many others that I will discuss in future videos in terms of hand position and other practicing techniques. For now, I suggest that you practice very strongly. Practice your scales and your arpeggios slowly with raised fingers then work up gradually faster. As you get faster, your fingers, by necessity, must be closer and closer to the keys until you can play quickly but still have the pristine evenness, so each note is exactly the same length because the raising of fingers accomplishes the release of each previous note. That’s all for today and thanks for joining us! info@livingpianos.com
8 thoughts on “Brilliant Piano Finger Technique – Piano Lessons”
Thanks Robert.
I really enjoy your informative videos. I’ll look forward to seeing you again at one of your recitals.
Your piano friend
Doyle Fowler
Have you considered “Taubman Technic”? Your method is great but often times leads to injury for many pianists.
Thank you for your concern about possibly injuring myself practicing. Fortunately I have never suffered any physical problems playing or practicing the piano nor have any of my students over the decades. I have never heard of Taubman Technic. Of course, the Alexander Technique is well known for relaxed performing of music. I’m not sure which technique video you are responding to, but if it is the idea of practicing slowly with raised fingers, this is actually akin to dancers and athletes doing slow stretches before working out strenuously and actually decreases the likelihood of injury.
You have gotten better than I remember you 30 years ago. Great explanation also!!!
The videos about technique and pedals are great. I would like to recommend them to my little students. It will inspire them! And thank you for mentioning Horowitz and Rachmaninoff.
Dear Robert: Great videos you make in your site, I learn a lot about pianos, wich I really love, easy to understend to novice like me, I like the Bluthner brand, I just want to say thanks to you because you care to teach thecnical tips of piano making and brands, I love German Pianos, old ones, Thanks again and please keep the good work because you make a lot of people happy, shame you don’t have a store in Monterrey Mexico, you could sell dozen of restaured German pianos. best regards from Mexico. Luis
Hi Robert,
What a wonderful video you shared with us! Thanks for your insight. Will hit the scales with this in mind. I also love your pianos. I love the Baldwin artist grand you have on display. Wish I was closer and could stop by. Cheers! Carlos.