Help!

[morethanfine]

Hi, I just started to teach myself piano today and have an instructional computer program. But I have a Q? It says to hit middle c once with my right hand and then hit f but an octave higher! I know where it is and octave higher but...what finger do I hit the f with when it is an octave higher? When it is the f 3 spaces from middle c I just use finger 4! PLEASE HELP! I wan't to make sure I am doing it properly. Thanks

[m1469]

hee hee... you are sneaky .

Anyway, it depends on what comes next (after the "f") .  So, what comes next ?

[morethanfine]

F twice then back to middle c then g an octave higher twice also.

[m1469]

Well, hee hee... some people may choose between a couple of different things.  I would probably choose 5 twice and then back.

[morethanfine]

Does it really matter? LOL! And why am I sneaky? 

[m1469]

Well, yes, to some extent it does matter. 

And, if you are sneaky, perhaps you know why .

[cmg]

I'd invite m1469 over to turn this simple exercise into a four-hand piece.  Give her the "f's" and you take the "c's.  She'll then intellectualize it to the point where you'll be tempted to take up saxophone.

[morethanfine]

AHHHH! I'm kinda confused! Maybe I should just quit.

[m1469]

me, too  -- anyway, have you really even started ? 

[morethanfine]

Yeah

[m1469]

Well, you have put ... what, 10 mins in so far ?  I don't know, that's a bit too much of an investment to already quit.  Don't you think ? 

[morethanfine]

More like 4 hours LOL! I guess ur rihgt!

[m1469]

4 hours ?  So, did you enjoy it ?

[chidi]

Well this is an odd thread.

[morethanfine]

LOVED IT! PLus I am a singer and am going to be going to school for music so....this will def help me w/ that!

[m1469]

wow, what a cowinki dink.  I also am a singer .  Yes, they go very well together.  So, what are you confused about ? .

[morethanfine]

Just what I started this thread about LOL! So the 5th finger for both BOTH of the times?

[m1469]

Well, see, we have to whisper because if I say yes, somebody much more knowledgeable and wise will barge in here (maybe the piano mafia) and give us something else to consider that would totally negate my advice. 

And, then, on top of that, when you want to know what the actual "rules" are that they are talking about (so as not to break them too prematurely ), they will then disappear as quickly as they came (having told you some magical story to further confuse you, and having given you no answer whatsoever) in order to teach you a lesson in thinking for yourself ... not "intellectualizing" mind you, just thinking for yourself (but don't worry, you will do this wrong, too -- and that will be pointed out as well). 

You know, so that way 4 hours into it, you are already becoming "independent" and so on.

[jlh]

Well, see, we have to whisper because if I say yes, somebody much more knowledgeable and wise will barge in here (maybe the piano mafia) and give us something else to consider that would totally negate my advice.

I wouldn't say I'm more knowledgeable, but I will throw another fish on the pot.   

Today is the first lesson, right?  So why is the program already having you jump around so much?  If they're just trying to get you used to recognizing notes as being the same in every octave, then that would be acceptable. 

In that case, it makes no difference what finger you use, because you're only supposed to play the notes in a different octave. 

Consider also that you're spanning past an octave to hit the F's and back down an octave to play the C's.  There's no other notes up near the F's before you come down, so any finger would be useful.  The 5, like m1469 suggested, makes sense because there is less physical space to span to get up there and come back down.

If you want to simplify things you can play the 4 on the F like you would if you're in your "home" C position. 

All this to say that at the beginning level you're at, if your software doesn't tell you exactly what to do, either it's bad software or it doesn't matter one way or another what finger you should use.

Best,
Josh

PS this thread should probably be moved to the "student" section. 

[m1469]

Here we go