fingers?

[nedrahej]

How do I train my fingers to move without the other ones moving? I trying to move fingers 1,3,5 at the same time then move only 2,4 bur for some reason they want to move the previous fingers and i'm getting frustrated.

[iansinclair]

Practice.  and then more practice.  Not just at the piano -- you can work on independent motion sitting at a desk, or waiting for the train, or whatever.

And don't get worried if you don't think you are making much progress!  It can be remarkably difficult.  In fact, most people never get complete independence.  Just so long as you have enough.

I would suggest working with one finger at a time, though, at first, rather than combinations.  Then when one at a time gets to be reasonably independent, start working combinations.  Don't forget side to side as well as up and down...

[outin]

Just don't hurt yourself practicing...some fingers simply are connected and trying to force them is not healthy.

[nedrahej]

Just don't hurt yourself practicing...some fingers simply are connected and trying to force them is not healthy.

its funny that my left hand can have free range of motion, but then again, I'm lefthanded. Now you going to see me waiting for bus moving my fingers

[nedrahej]

here is a video of me playing and my fingers screwing up. any suggestions?

[lloyd_cdb]

its funny that my left hand can have free range of motion, but then again, I'm lefthanded. Now you going to see me waiting for bus moving my fingers

I'm left handed and my right hand has better separation. Things like that are more of a nurture issue instead of nature, meaning you can change/improve it to a fairly reasonable extent.

[j_menz]

here is a video of me playing and my fingers screwing up. any suggestions?

How long have you been playing? What have you attempted to play?  Why do you think this particular figure is a good test?

[nedrahej]

For some reason it just feels good to play those keys. But it is hard for my fingers to do

[j_menz]

For some reason it just feels good to play those keys. But it is hard for my fingers to do

And the other two questions......?

[nedrahej]

I've read many books. Finally got a piano to practice. I've only been playing for two days

[j_menz]

I've read many books. Finally got a piano to practice. I've only been playing for two days

Then I suggest you start with something else. Are you planning on having a teacher or pursuing a course of self study form a book? I would recommend the former, but either way get going with that and don't waste your time with these pointless "exercises". The freedom you are after will come in time, but what you are doing it is not a very efficient way to get it.

[nedrahej]

One book wants me to find all the keys and memorize them. It doesn't talk really in the beginning about playing. Maybe I should change books

[j_menz]

One book wants me to find all the keys and memorize them. It doesn't talk really in the beginning about playing. Maybe I should change books

What book are you using?

[outin]

I've read many books. Finally got a piano to practice. I've only been playing for two days

Before trying to work on finger separation you should learn posture, hand shapes and other stuff. And after you do you probably won't need any special exercise for that anyway, unless there are specific demands in your repertoire. But that is something that is a long way in the future. There are some old books that are full of finger independence exercises, forget about them. You cannot learn to play reading books. Books may be useful for specific things later, but in the beginning they will only confuse you.

You would really need a teacher, but a modern adult piano course and some internet tutoring is the other way to go. Unfortunately the internet is full of useless and contradicting stuff, so prepare to be confused...

[dima_76557]

here is a video of me playing and my fingers screwing up. any suggestions?

1) Avoid double notes for the time being.
2) Give yourself more time between tones. When you have successfully played one tone or one combination of tones (for example 1-3), stay there or stop deliberately and count at least to 5 to realize that it was not so difficult. Then go to the next finger or finger combination and do the same. Trying to go too fast too soon is what spoils it all, even for more advanced students. Your brain needs time to realize what's happening before this will become "natural". You cannot force that process right now. If you do as I tell you, you (and your fingers) will feel a lot better in just a couple of days.
3) Let your "bad" hand learn from your "good" hand.

[nedrahej]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm thinking of taking lessons from long beach school of music.  Maybe I should've read on how to read notes

[outin]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm thinking of taking lessons from long beach school of music.  Maybe I should've read on how to read notes

That is something you CAN learn from books and is also useful to do until you get a teacher.