Weak fingers in the left hand.

[chopin_rules]

Does anyone know how to make fingers 5 and 4 of the left hand stronger. I have played the Czerny daily exercises but on the first exercise I can't get my 4th and 5th fingers to perform the CDEDCDED...... patern evenly. I always end up with a very odd rhythm, any tips.

[PianoProfBonsWay]

I am a piano teacher of 44 years, and I have three or more exercises that will help your 4-5 fingers in both hands. One  exercise I can explain on this forum, but the others you will have to request them at my email address and I will send you an attachment of these exercises.

Exercise: Place hand on a table top or hard surface, with your fingers curves, then keep fingers 1-2-3 connected to the surface as you move 4-5 fingers up and down, alternating 4-5 fingers.

Send for the other exercises: fastwaypianomethod@yukontel.com  
Prof. Bonnie Woodruff

[xenon]

Wow!  It's not as easy as it sounds!    Souds great though.  I hear from myfriend's dad, who is an ER doctor, that the tendons or whatnot of the 4th and 5th fingers are dependant.  Fingers 1, 2, and 3 all have their own, but 4 and 5 shares them.  I think that's what he siad.  It's really cool that if you wiggle your fingers around, you can see the tendons moving under your skin in your arm .

[lc3606]

Prof. Woodruff, what minimal age would you suggest for this type of exercise?

[robert_henry]

Even without seeing you, I guarantee your wrist is tight.  Loosen it.  You should be making a small circle with it to assist your fingers.  So small that no one else could see it.

Robert Henry

[PianoProfBonsWay]

I remember after taking many years of piano exercises, that my 4-5 fingers still needed some help to strengthen and control.  I didn't have this special European system learning piano, but now  I have a special European system, for the piano that gives this type of technique within the first six months in their beginning technique studies. What ages for 4-5 fingers exercises?  When students can reach a full octave, and they have accomplished 27 Musicianship patterns (which is 3-5 levels), and some Black Key Technique designed for coordiation and strengthening their fingers (about 20-30 different patterns), then they are ready to really work with the 4-5 fingers, noting that those students do not need hours and hours of work to further their strength and control for their 4-5 fingers, because of this unique system. I only wished I have had this type of training that I give to my students when I was going up!

Prof. B. Woodruff

[jonathandodd]

That sounds like an excersise in a book of studies by Dohnany. (Sp?). There are some really fundamental excersises in that book for finger independance and so on. Do you know the 2nd chopin etude? It's really good for strength in the weaker fingers of the right hand. There is an equivalent, written by Godowsky for the left hand. I don't know how advanced you are, cos it's pretty hard, but well worth a try if you want to build strength. You can actually download a copy from https://www.geocities.com/alanchan1048576/mus/godowsky.html. I'm not sure if this is illegal or not though! anyway, hope this helps.

Jon

[redberry]

hi!
I wonder should the little finger 5th one be straight or curved to be strong? any good suggestions?

[jonathandodd]

Curved!! Definitely.

Jon

[PianoProfBonsWay]

After studying European system, it is important to develop both schools of thought with the 5th finger.

#1 Curved produces metalic sound, and ~ yes this strengthens your 5th finger, but special exercises for the 5th is good too. I would be glad to send you those exercises.

#2 Using the cushioned area of the finger, striking the Black keys (all 36) with a distance of about 2 inch above the black key before striking it.

Extra Information: talking about 5th finger
If you are playing say, four-part harmony, use the 5th finger in the R.H. curved and the other 3 parts use the cushioned areas of your fingers (giving them a softer tone), then the melody is heard above the harmony. Beautiful, balanced right.