Another Fink Book and Video mini review

[rlefebvr]

This is a review of the Fink book and video tape from an intermediate student and not from a teacher point of view. This is important to state as it will have an effect on the review and may not be shared by someone viewing it from a teachers standpoint. This review will touch more on the video then the book.

The subject matter of the book and video is how to properly use you body to get the most out of your piano playing.
From how you sit at the piano to the different ways of playing the keys by changing the movement of your arms,hands wrists and fingers.There are also a series of exercises that will leave you feeling like you just wasted a lot of money. They look silly. They feel silly. They can help however if given a chance.
My opinion is that the book and video would be wasted on a beginner unless it was followed with of a good teacher.The intermediate player will find one, maybe two, maybe three things he will find useful and will shrug off the rest. Those one to three things however could end up being very liberating.For the advanced player it would be a waste of time as you should already be aware of everything mentioned in the book.

The Book

Let me start by saying I do not do well with any type of technical manual. I need visual feedback. The book by itself was totally useless to me and I really believe you should get the video first. If you like the video and want to get the book as a point of reference, than by all means do. If you are a teacher you may want something tangible close at hand.
The book really is a technical manual and unless you already know what he is talking about, I don't see how you could make head or tails out if it. To me, it is more a reference book a teacher may keep handy to go back and look at specific things once in a blue moon. Not something you would use very often, but happy you have it handy when you need it.

The video is basically the book in video form and does a much better job of conveying it's message.


The Video.


The presentation is terrible  and will put you to sleep within five minutes. Fink has managed to make this very dull with his delivery. Do not expect an "infomercial delivery here" His monotonous tone last throughout the tape and it makes it very difficult to concentrate on what he is saying. I had to watch it in several sittings so as to not fall asleep.

Despite this, the video does a very good job of explaining the different techniques available and when they can be best used.I would have preferred he give more examples with each techniques he describes, but then it would have made for a very long tape.

The video is very well organized. The quality is what you would expect, although it could have been better. The Sound is not great either, but it gets the job done.

The book is very lovely indeed. It is a big hard cover book, with good illustrations and is very easy the read.Each subject is subdivided in sections that follow a logical conclusion.

In the end, I was expecting more, especially from the video. I felt that more information, more detailed explanations should have been handed to me. This does not mean it is not worthwhile getting and for 30$ you could do a lot worse.Just don't expect anything great.

[Saturn]

Good review of the book and video, but I want to know more about your reaction to his method.

What about the fundamental movements he teaches?  Were they a good preparation for the movements to be applied to the keyboard?

How did his techniques improve your playing when you put them into practice?

- Saturn

[rlefebvr]

Good review of the book and video, but I want to know more about your reaction to his method.
- Saturn

That review is best left to someone more qualified.

What about the fundamental movements he teaches?  Were they a good preparation for the movements to be applied to the keyboard?
- Saturn

This is where I was left wanting. I felt the applications of the different movements to the keyboard should have been better explained and much more detailed. Someone with more experience may feel it was enough, but from where I sit it was lacking.

How did his techniques improve your playing when you put them into practice?
- Saturn

That is way to early to tell yet....