My dainty pinky

[dss62467]

I videotaped myself playing a couple sonatas yesterday to send to my father, who lives in another state and never gets to hear me play.  I've never actually heard or seen myself play either, so I was surprised to find that I sound better than I thought, but am not at all pleased with what I see going on with my pinkies.    When I'm not using them, they're sticking up like I'm trying to be a lady drinking tea.    How do I fix that?   Not sure if that actually affects my playing, but my instincts tell me that's just poor form.  I don't type on the keyboard like that....

[stevebob]

If your pinkies do what you want when you want, I wouldn't fret about this at all unless you're very self-conscious about it in public performance settings.

Some people's pinky fingers spontaneously curl under on occasion, too, when they're playing (e.g., when not in use and the hand is in certain positions or motions).  As long as the fingers are functional and unimpaired, I'm not aware that either situation is a problem.  I would be more concerned that undue worrying about it and/or attempting to "correct" a natural trait could induce tension in your playing.

[peterjmathis]

I have to agree. As long as it's not uncomfortable or interfering with your ability to play, it's not a big deal. You don't have to worry about it unless it actually starts causing problems.

[birba]

A dainty pinky is indicative of useless tension in the hand.  On the other hand, if you have to force it to curl under, that's also useless tension.  I used to be obsessed with that, as well.  I was fortunate to have found a "school" that taught me that tension is found only in the note or notes you are playing at a given time.  Therefore, the pinky, when not in use, curves naturally down.  Doing away with unnecessary tension facilitates technical difficulties and velocity.  Just watch Argerich at work. But this was for me.  I've seen plenty of dainty pinkies in my life that can cut a mean revolutionary etude.

[non_stop]

Hey - you should do some five-finger exercises - it's sticking up because you've not yet got proper independence of that finger yet.

https://www.pianofirststeps.com has some handy information on that.

Hanon and Schmidt are generally the main ones I think.

[stevebob]

Hey - you should do some five-finger exercises - it's sticking up because you've not yet got proper independence of that finger yet.

I don't think there's any way of knowing that the original poster lacks "proper independence" or that it's the reason for the pinky-finger condition (unless you're claiming that it's the only possible cause).

[rmbarbosa]

I´m sorry but I dont agree with Non Stop. I do agree with the other posts. Also I dont like things like "learning piano in 30 days". Nobody can learn piano in 30 days.
Rui

[dss62467]

I've got 9 years of playing experience, so I'm definitely not a beginner.  I've just never noticed the pinky before.  I did "yell" at my teacher on Tuesday for not telling me to fix it sooner.  I said, "don't you ever watch my hands?"      He suggested a few pretty nifty exercises that really weren't specific to the pinky - he didn't seem very concerned with it, since he's very pleased with my skill level and is trying to talk me into doing duets with him in public.  The exercises are just more towards developing my velocity.   The whole first 45 minutes of my half hour lesson was consumed with this topic. 

I said no on the public playing, because it was at a fish dinner and bleah!  If it was spaghetti, then maybe.

I did notice the next day as I was doing the exercises that if I actually pay attention to my hands, the pinkies don't do it.   I guess I shouldn't yell at anyone else for not looking if I don't look myself.