Fingers tip

[jamkul]

Hi to All,

I'm new here in the forum aswell as new in playing the piano. I've studied several years (a long time ago) the accordeon (buttons) but I've always wanted to learn the piano. So I've started my auto-training method based on bernhard tips. My first piece choice was Schumans Wild Horseman. I can play the first part of the piece without problems, but when I arrive to the second part, where the left hand plays the melody, my fingers just can't decide which key belongs to each one! 
There is any tip or rule to make this easier. I mean the left hand finger/key assignement?
Thank you very much.

JK

[pianistimo]

auto-training method?  you mean you're using piano technique to drive your car?  just kidding.  there is a lot to learn first from just learning the fingerings of the major and minor scales and arpeggios.   you can transfer that to classical composers that use scales and trills, etc.  but, when you get into romantic music you are looking at the strength of your various fingers.  if you have an accent, obviously you don't want to use your fourth finger.  thumbs are often assigned sfz and the softer fingers for softer passages.  also, you want to make sure that your fingering fits the speed.  the fast you go, the better fingerings you absolutely need - and you have to practice the same way each day.

i always write the rh fingerings above the notes and lh fingerings below.  that way you don't get confused when you look at your fingerings.  avoid rounded numbers (writing them rounded) - try to write like a mathematician so you can read them later.

one last thing, look at which way the stems are going sometimes when you have intertwined voices.  sometimes it will give you a clue as to which hand to use (and sometimes not).  there's some hand crossovers in certain pieces which would be much more difficult to play with one hand soley. 

this is my advice.  learn your teachers fingerings first!  practice them the way the teacher writes them.  learn the tips from how your teacher approaches fingering and ask questions.  go to a music library and look for music that has been professionally fingered.  for instance, at west chester uni they have loads of music that has really good  fingering in it.  i suppose at public library they'd consider it a travesty to write in the music - but at a music school, it's expected that some students will learn from the library copy first while waiting for their ordered music to arrive.  i've learned a lot just from browsing.

i think there's a few books written on the subject, too - or aluded to by various composers and teachers.  didn't lechetitsky and cortot have some good things to say about these things?

[pianistimo]

'the art of fingering' by penelope roskell is advertised as a good book, too.

[abell88]

this is my advice.  learn your teachers fingerings first!

I think "auto-training" means self-training...

Try to use fingering that will minimize the times your hand has to move (this is a good general rule but there will be exceptions.)  Often if there are broken chords you can try playing them as solid chords and transfer that fingering to the broken chords.

Here is some suggested LH fingering for the section you mentioned:
5 252 153 241 235  241 235 251 (15) ...then repeat, except end with 253 2

[bernhard]

Have a look here for some general rules on fingering:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2458.msg21365.html#msg21365
(Mental practice – tips for fingering)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4123.msg37829.html#msg37829
(How to investigate the best movement pattern: Example Scarlatti sonata K70 – How to work out the best fingering. Example: CPE Bach Allegro in A – Slow x slow motion practice – HS x HT – practising for only 5 – 10 minutes)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2619.msg22756.html#msg22756
(unorthodox fingering for all major and minor scales plus an explanation)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,2619.msg104249.html#msg104249
(Scale fingering must be modified according to the piece – Godard op. 149 no.5 – yet another example of the folly of technical exercises)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/board,1/topic,16037.3.html#msg171612
(chromatic scale fingerings)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[jamkul]

Thank you All.

Yes, with auto-training I meant self-training. Sorry for my english. Your tips were very usefull.

Thanks once again.

JK