Are fingers important in piano?

Fingerings Stabilize Muscle Memory The earlier on you set fingerings, the easier it will be to learn the music. If your fingers are constantly guessing where to go, they will never learn what to do. Using different fingerings confuses the fingers and creates problems for muscle memory.

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There has always been a debate between teachers and students over the fingerings written in scores. Even Bach wrote fingerings out for his students to use! I constantly have to remind students to use the fingering written and they always counter with a whiny, “why can’t I just use my own fingering!” It’s very frustrating to constantly have this conversation, so I’m going to definitively explain why fingerings are so important and when using exceptions over what is written in the score is acceptable. However, most of the time, you should use what is written!

Fingerings Stabilize Muscle Memory

When learning a piece of music, the success comes from consistency, (i.e. perfect practice makes perfect). The earlier on you set fingerings, the easier it will be to learn the music. If your fingers are constantly guessing where to go, they will never learn what to do. Using different fingerings confuses the fingers and creates problems for muscle memory. Instead of exclusively paying attention to the notes, look at your fingerings from the very beginning. For young students especially, use what is written unless your teacher instructs you to do something different. For those that are more advanced, at least give the written fingerings a try before throwing in the towel. Editors are very well versed in the instrument they are writing fingerings for–they put a lot of effort into their markings, so don’t ignore them.

You Should Consider What’s Written

As I mentioned previously, the editors of scores usually know what they are doing when choosing a suggested fingering. Editions such as Urtext, Henle, Vienna, Durand, International, and other well known publishers, contain top of the line fingerings. It is important to try them out from the very beginning, as they are written to aid your playing. Despite my urgency to obey written fingerings, there are a few exceptions:

Exceptions To The Rule

When in doubt, use the written fingering. However, there are some exceptions. One – perhaps obvious – exception is if there simply isn’t a fingering written. You will notice that fingerings aren’t written out for every single note–that would be a huge waste of ink! Most fingerings are written when there is a change in position. In this case, you must try to keep your fingers in the same position as long as possible. The goal in playing any instrument is to keep it stress free and effortless. The less movement you have to make, the better.This brings me to the only other exception: discomfort. If you have small hands, or even large hands, you may run into fingering discomfort. NEVER play something if it causes too much stress to your hand. If it’s a far reach, or you find something easier, you may be able to change it. But ask your teacher just to be sure you are making the right decision.

Takeaways

There are a few things to always keep in mind about fingerings.

Play through the piece initially with the written fingerings to determine if it works. Always consider the written fingering first. If a fingering is too uncomfortable, change it. Maintain hand position as long as possible, minimizing excessive movement. If you change a fingering, check with your teacher to be sure it works. Decide your fingering early on and STICK WITH IT. This optimizes your memorization and muscle memory.

Now get to practicing, and NEVER ignore your fingerings!

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Do pianists get wrist pain?

Wrist pain is a common phenomenon among pianists, and beginners and advanced musicians alike grapple with this issue.

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Is Your Wrist Supposed To Hurt When Playing The Piano?

No, you should not experience any wrist pain whatsoever when playing the piano. Pain is a warning -- our bodies are telling us that something is wrong -- and we can adjust our playing technique accordingly to make sure we stay healthy. Also, you don’t necessarily have a serious injury or nerve damage just because your wrist hurts. You should address the pain, stretch, and correct your technique as soon as possible, but it will only develop into something serious (like carpal tunnel) if you ignore the pain and continue playing the same way.

Can Playing Piano Cause Carpal Tunnel?

Sadly, yes - many pianists struggle with carpal tunnel. Here’s what you need to know about this issue and what you can do about it.

Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Pianists May Face

Have experienced any of the following?

Weakness in the hands

Numbness in the hands or fingertips

Tingling sensations

Chronic aching pain

Burning sensations

You may be suffering early onset or advanced carpal tunnel. You should start by taking some time off, stretching and icing, and easing back into the piano with perfect technique -- if the issue does not improve, you will need to consult a medical professional. DO NOT “play through the pain” and keep practicing as usual. If you do, you could end up in therapy, and you’ll spend upwards of a year before you can play the piano at your current level.

What Exactly Causes Carpal Tunnel?

The carpal tunnel is a bundle of nerves and tendons that runs from your palm through to your forearm. Wrist tension and activity can put pressure on the median nerve (right in the center of this bundle), causing numbness, tingling, pain, or a burning sensation.

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