Saturday, November 12, 2011

Turning Thumb Over or Crossing Over Thumb

Fingering Technic

In early piano fingering systems the thumb was rarely used as a pivot over which the fingers could pass either up or down the scale. The basic principles of modern fingering first became known through C.P.E. Bach. Carl Czerny created an original method of finger exercises in The Art of Finger Dexterity. One of the principal aims of good fingering is to avoid unnecessary hand movement.

Scale playing requires agility in turning the thumb under or crossing another finger over the thumb. There are a lot of opinions regarding the best time to begin teaching scales. Gat states "If the pupil has already mastered small pentachord pieces to the point of sight-reading them he may begin to practice scales."

As for myself, I begin teaching the one octave C major scale with hands separate well before the student learns pentachords. Although the beginner student may not yet be ready to read scales and arpeggios, once he shows some control over playing white and black keys, he can be shown how to turn the thumb under properly.

Although the actual study of scales may be delayed, a beginner can be exposed to scale preparation within the first 6 months to a year of lessons. The thumb should be turned under smoothly without twisting the hand and arm out of shape. When the student first begins to turn the thumb under, hey may start by turning under the second finger. The next step is to turn the thumb under 3, and finally turn under 4. Turning the thumb under 3 and 4 is especially helpful, because this will prepare the student for scale playing.

Crossing a finger over the thumb is just as important as turning the thumb under. The crossing should be made as smoothly as possible, without poking the elbow far out to compensate. The hand should remain quiet at all times when crossing under or over the thumb.

For more information about piano instruction Basking Ridge area, please contact Barbara Ehrlich Piano Studio.

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