Piano Lessons

Curving over our fingers to bring the tips of them into playing position is the most efficient way to make contact with the piano keys. The first joint of our fingers bend backward and forward. While bending them backward the action delays the keys from responding instantly. We have better control when we do not let this first joint of our fingers bend in the improper way.

Tendons in our hands that run through and over our wrists, meet a natural resistance when we do not keep the backs of our hands upright and flat with the ceiling while playing. Pivoting from one key to another as we play can help us build the dexterity and muscle our hands and fingers need to play for extended periods of time.

Memorizing which finger is playing which note or “positioning” helps us keep our eyes on the music we are reading. Staring at our hands while we play can seem like a good idea but it tends to make us collapse our wrists to see the keys. Letting our wrists collapse as we play can greatly hinder progress and cause physical discomfort unnecessarily. This also makes us prone to memorizing written music and stifles our site reading abilities.

You can definitely play with long finger nails but it is more difficult to get a grip on the keys and keep your fingers curved for better control.