Quick Fur Elise fingering question

[teenagepiano]

I was playing Fur Elise at my lesson, and on the main theme(Is that what its called?) of E-Eb-E-Eb-E-B-D-C-A, for the "E-Eb" part, the sheet music(and my teacher) says use 5-4-5-4-5, but I prefer to use 4-3-4-3-4.

Personally I find playing the piece far easier with 3-4 as opposed to 5-4.

My question is, does it matter?

[j_menz]

I use 4-3.

It only matters if it doesn't work.

[sucom]

If you feel more comfortable using 434 then it won't matter at all while playing this piece.  However, the very fact that you have said that you prefer to use 434 suggests there may be a possibility that the reason you prefer this is because these fingers feel stronger than 545. 

The question is, would you always prefer to avoid weaker fingers, or would it be useful to strengthen up the 5th finger to the point where it wouldn't make the slightest difference to you to use 434 or 545?  If you are able to use 545 equally as well as 434, would you even be asking this question? 

My thoughts on this are that your teacher is right - you should use 545 if only for the reason that you will be strengthening your little finger in preparation for other pieces you might play in the future.  My view is, if there is a weakness, don't avoid it - work it out!  You have 5 useful fingers to use on each hand - why limit this to only 4?

[teran]

4343 is perfectly fine, I've even seen it marked on a certain volume of popular piano pieces I have.

I prefer 5454 but the whole point of fingering is that it works and is comfortable giving you the most efficient execution of the piece. If you get that from 43 then do it.

[teenagepiano]

If you feel more comfortable using 434 then it won't matter at all while playing this piece.  However, the very fact that you have said that you prefer to use 434 suggests there may be a possibility that the reason you prefer this is because these fingers feel stronger than 545.  

The question is, would you always prefer to avoid weaker fingers, or would it be useful to strengthen up the 5th finger to the point where it wouldn't make the slightest difference to you to use 434 or 545?  If you are able to use 545 equally as well as 434, would you even be asking this question?  

My thoughts on this are that your teacher is right - you should use 545 if only for the reason that you will be strengthening your little finger in preparation for other pieces you might play in the future.  My view is, if there is a weakness, don't avoid it - work it out!  You have 5 useful fingers to use on each hand - why limit this to only 4?

It is partly this, I can control dynamics and speed more precisely with 4-3. Do you have any tips or exercises that I can do to strengthen my little fingers? I would like to have the same amount of strength in them as at least the 4th fingers but  I don't use them very often as most pieces I play don't need them apart from octaves/ chords, walk-ups, etc. I think glissandos can be done with them, but the only piece I know with lots of them is Jarrod Radnichs "Pirates of the Carribean", and that is pretty much my goal piece that I'm working towards, so I can practice with something so above my level.

Edit: Actually, I think I was thinking of something else, because using only the little finger for glissandos would hurt like hell.

[teran]

Lots and lots of Bach, imo.