finger staccato "flicking" the thumb

[1piano4joe]

Hi all,

I am finding it difficult to "flick" with my thumb. There is a video of this on Youtube, "Piano Lesson: John Gough 1 Finger Staccato and Wrist Staccato".

This scratching motion either lifts my finger off the key or releases it while skimming the surface. At least it seems that way to me.

I can't really tell what is going on since this flick occurs in the blink of an eye. It seems more like a nervous twitch.

In any event, a finger comes straight back parallel with the key while the thumb comes back obliquely with the key. Should the thumb slide off the back of the white keys?

Also, I find if I rotate my wrist slightly toward the pinkie, the thumb will come back much straighter. I have figured out that to come perfectly straight back requires rotating the hand 90 degrees (like you were going to shake hands). This is of course, entirely ridiculous.

As always any tips, suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you , Joe.  

P.S. This is in the context of staccato scales.

[1piano4joe]

Hi all,

Upon closer examination, it turns out my fingers don't come perfectly straight back like I thought. Since there is a small amount (perhaps incorrectly?) of thumb under movement the fingers come off the top of the black keys at an angle. I tried this with a Db major scale.

Maybe this is right?

This is just the way I do it. I never thought about it before or put it into words, Joe.

[hardy_practice]

I have found myself 'flicking' the thumb playing at speed. Joe, posting a vid would help.