flat major scale fingerings

[eins]

Today, my professor kicked me back six months, back to day one.
I was given fingerings for the flat major scales that are different from the standard 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 for LH.

E.g., Bb Major RH: 4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4 (corrected hand)
Bb LH: 3-2-1-4-3-2-1-3 (corrected hand)

It was explained to me that with the standard fingering, I'd never be able to play certain pieces.

Now I feel like I can't play flat scales anymore. Each flat major scale has a different, indivudual fingering, and LH and RH are different from each other too.

Did you all know this and I was never made aware, or is this something I should not worry about and just continue with the old, standard fingering? I feel like I'm back to square one 

[mrchops10]

Your new fingerings are in fact "standard" fingerings, going back to the idea that the thumb should not be played on the black keys. Whatever some pf members may believe, this is still generally a good idea. That means you will have to learn a new fingering for every scale, that is true. I would maybe work on one scale each week, so you don't get confused with all the fingerings. Trust your teacher; this is not a waste of time, by learning these scales now you won't have to panic the next time you play a piece in D flat major. Good luck!

[abell88]

I hope it was just a typo when you labelled the first fingering for LH and the 2nd for RH, because that is exactly backwards!

Yes, there are different fingerings for the black key scales. I think after you've done a few you won't find them so hard. They are actually designed to make it easier for your hand. These fingerings keep you from using your thumb on a black key, which is okay for chords but make scales slow and uncomortable.

[eins]

Duh, maybe that's why I have such trouble with the new fingering, I can't even distinguish LH from RH. So, yes, abell88, you are right, and thanks for allowing me the excuse it was a typo

Thanks for the responses, and keeping the thumb off the black keys was exactly the reason she gave me for these fingerings. I have started last learning them now, and yes, one can get used to them.

One remaining question: Bb major for RH (sic) starts with 4 which seems unnecessary. 3 or even 2* appear to be very sufficient. Why is it a 4? (and it was originally a 3 on my sheet she gave me, but then corrected to a 4).


* corrected from 1--I need to get used to counting the fingers 

[al]

One remaining question: Bb major for RH (sic) starts with 4 which seems unnecessary. 3 or even 1 appear to be very sufficient. Why is it a 4? (and it was originally a 3 on my sheet she gave me, but then corrected to a 4).

The only reason I can think of for using 4 there is to get you used to the pattern, ie 4-1-2-3-1-2-3-4 all the way.  Practically, though, it'd be better to start on 2.

[gaer]

One remaining question: Bb major for RH (sic) starts with 4 which seems unnecessary. 3 or even 2* appear to be very sufficient. Why is it a 4? (and it was originally a 3 on my sheet she gave me, but then corrected to a 4).

It is absolutely not necessary to start with 4.

BUT:

Your teacher probably wants you to get used to keep 4 on Bb, in the RH, until you get the new fingering in your head. Quite obviously if you continue past that note, going farther down the keyboard, you will not be able to continue using another finger.

Gary

[sonatainfsharp]

Hmmmm...

Every scale is 123 1234, but here is the clincher...

You have to know which finger to start on. For example:

Bb-major: RH 4, 123, 1234.  See? Same pattern, you just started on 4, that is all.
Db-major: RH 23, 1234, 12. See? Same pattern, you just started on 2, that is all.
B-major: LH 1, 321, 4321. See? Same pattern, blah blah blah. (This can start on 4, as well)

The pattern is always the same, you just have to know which finger to start on. So, you really don't have to re-learn a thing!

We certainly do use 1 on a black key, but not during scale passages because you physically can't get around a thumb raised onto a black key.

[eins]

you physically can't get around a thumb raised onto a black key.

So far I had to. Maybe that's why my hand looks so weird, like I'm always making a fist 

Thanks all for the explanation. For some reason, once I know why, it is easy to change things. Until I understand why, I have a problem. Is this the Aries in me?