Finger independence for young child

[namui]

At first I would like to ask Bernhard through message but then thought that the answer might be useful for others. So dear Bernhard, my daughter is needing a little suggestion again. May you please ?

For a background, my daughter (7y5m) was able to play Burgmuller Op.100 No.14 successfully at speed 176 because of Bernhard's excellent practicing drill. In the past two months, she has practiced the No.12 (Adieu) which requires very quick finger movement (continuous triplet at speed 184). She has done most of the parts OK but struggled to control her fourth finger. To be more specific, the situation is the treble score C-A-C-D-E-D-C-D-C-B-C-D-E ... (triplets along the way) with thumb at A and fifth finger at E. Most of motions for C-D-E or E-D-C or D-C-B are played as if the fourth finger and thrid finger are partially tied up together. This affects both the timing and clarity of each of those notes.

My daughter recognizes the problem but can handle the problem only if she play slowly (approximately 130). She does it by concentrating on controlling the fingers at those particular spots. However, it seems to be tense and unnatural. And seems like her technique for playing such part correctly at slow speed is not the one that can be done at fast speed.

Is there any drill or idea you may suggest for overcoming this problem ?

Oh, to keep it short, her teacher doesn't find this to be problem and then didn't suggest any way to solve it. It is my daughter herself that raised this question to me. She heard the problem and couldn't fix it after trying for two weeks.

Thanks in advance.

[bernhard]

The solution to your problem is extremely simple:

Change the fingering!

There is nothing sacred about a printed fingering. I am sure some people will argue that the point of using an awkward fingering is to train oneself to be comfortable with awkward fingerings.

Sorry, I just happen to think this is very misguided thinking. 19th century pedagogues were always devising new ways to do acrobatics with fingers (one reason I do not like their collections of exercises). They were obsessed with making the fingers equal in strength and completely independent. They simply did not know anatomy! Their ideasl are not only impossible to attain but ultimately unnecessary.

Try this alternative fingering:

If you start on bar 6, Burgmuller suggests you paly the first C with 3rd finger. This causes all subsequent problems since the 4th finger will be extensively used. Instead, play that first C with the 2nd finger, and follow the fingering below. You will see that it is much more comfortable, much more natural and will allow speeds far faster than 184:

21234323212342134232123421…

(instead of 313454….etc.)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[namui]

Thanks again for your advice.

And it's a very interesting advice too. I've tried it out and it really works.

[bernhard]

You are welcome.