I am currently teaching a piano student who can not use the little finger of her left hand. At the moment, we are playing John Thompson Book3, so fairly basic things, and I can manage to change the fingering to suit. My concern is when she approaches harder music. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of problem? I would appreciate any advice on alternate fingerings.

Hi,

I've posted a similar problem in viva violin couple of months ago.

I too have an adult student learning violin under me, she is borned without a left thumb and her right thumb is just hanging by a bit of flesh(meaning she can't grip the bow the same way as the others do). I'm worried about her shifting as she gets to grade 3 this year, but she is very ambitious to become a music teacher!

And now she is learning piano too! She wanted to do piano exams (violin exam is still ok for her as you don't need your left thumb to play the notes), but i can't imagine playing scales with 2 fingers off! I just adviced her to just learn with alternate fingerings (eg play a tonic triad with 5-4-2 in left hand) and to play whatever pieces she can for pleasure.

It is their interest in music that makes them to continue learning. In my opinion, it is good to let them do to whatever stage they can, and not to discourage them of their interest, and thus they may feel like we are looking down on them. It is not really impossible to play with the little finger of the left hand not used, since my student sounded worse than yours

How old is your pupil, istas?

QUOTE (happygirl @ May 6 2005, 04:15 PM)

I too have an adult student learning violin under me, she is borned without a left thumb and her right thumb is just hanging by a bit of flesh(meaning she can't grip the bow the same way as the others do).  I'm worried about her shifting as she gets to grade 3 this year, but she is very ambitious to become a music teacher!

She should consider transferring to a brass instrument, trumpet, cornet, tenor trombone (without thumb valve) or tuba. Horn would also be possible: she would be able to play a standard three-valve single horn, but most double horns have a thumb valve, and that would need to be modified to be operated by her little finger. Some makers (e.g. Alexander Brothers of Mainz) offer a standard design of single Bb horn with four valves in which the fourth valve can be finger- instead of thumb-operated. Alexanders don't usually have them in stock but will make them to order.

Yeah, I've heard about brass instruments being modified for the physically challenged. But, it is almost impossible to get someone to teach brass instruments here in this small town in my country, where music is not that important. Students here only learn mostly piano, and second violin and flute

A one-time pupil of mine, now a very experienced teacher and great friend, a few years ago cut off half of her finger 4. To prove she could still do it, she re-sat grade 6, passed with distinction and has been busy teaching ever since. We also meet at least once a week for a whole morning of coffee and duets. Well, we think its great fun

Goes to show that these things can be overcome. I guess I wouldn't suggest someone pursuing a career as a pro violinist for example if they were missing a thumb, but besides that, as long as they enjoy it and are playing an instrument they love, I say go for it - change instruments if their struggle is making them unhappy with their progress, or if they are planning on making music their career maybe... but surely better to play an instrument you love the best you can rather than one you're not so keen on just because you might be able to get to a higher level...

nannyjay - sounds like a lot of fun to me!

Hi, I have taught a student who was missing 1 and a half left hand fingers, who has now passed grade 8. It just goes to show how much of it is to do with hard work and determination, plus an intelligent approach to overcoming fingering issues. I've literally never found the fingering to be a problem-in fact my student has become very good at adapting the left hand fingering to suit, both in pieces and scales. It's just a matter of finding what works-as you would do anyway to an extent in more advanced music. And what about Ravel's left-handed piano concerto?

QUOTE (jpiano @ May 10 2005, 08:38 PM)

And what about Ravel's left-handed piano concerto?

Good point!!

Thankyou to everyone for your replies, my student is 12. Re learning a brass instrument, it is very difficult to find brass teachers here, but she will move back to the UK in the summer, so maybe at her new school it will be possible.
At the moment, we are playing scales with alternative fingering, but she is frustrated that she can not do a contrary motion scale, though her friend can!
It is amazing to hear how many people learn with disabilities, I think it is great that some students (and their teachers) are so dedicated.

Hi Istas,

Have you had a look at 'The Art of Piano Fingering' by Penelope Roskell? it is a new approach to scales and arpeggios and could help quite a lot. It is a LCM Publication and is supplied by all good music shops. or on the web of course.

An example is the scale of F major for the left hand.

Start with 321 and cross over on to Bb with the 4th finger.

It then lines up with all the other flat keys and is far more sensible than starting with the little finger in the left hand. I always use this fingering with my piano pupils as when they then play similar motion, hands together, they can play Bb with 4th fingers in each hand playing Bb.

This simple finger pattern makes far more sense than the illogical ones printed in all the conventional scale books. It also solves your pupil's problem, as no little finger is required.

The G major works beautifully for the Left hand starting 321,321 and 4th over to F sharp. This also means that 4th fingers come together on F sharp. No little finger in the left required and the scale is easier to play.

Have fun, she could enjoy the challenge as you both explore the new fingerings. All these new finger systems can then be applied to the pieces.