Anyone got any good tips for learning to train your fingers to stay close to the keys??? I find this really hard... and if I am tense (ie in lessons or exams) the more likely they are to be sticking up in the air!

Any tips? I'm playing things slow and trying to concentrate on it, and also practising fingers-staying-close in slow stuff & tone exercises in the hope that they will get the message when I play faster!

Sarah

Sticky back plastic?

... no serious suggestions I'm afraid, I just couldn't resist that one!

lol...

I actually had a few helpful suggestions off another list if anyone wants me to post them? though still open to new ideas.

though I'm so tired today I just can't play... tried several times and it's just toooooo tiring for lil old me!

(I might be a bit more inspired when my new music comes - tomorrow with any luck - hoping I'll feel more awake... Help, I'm an addict and can't get my fix!!!!!!!!)

Poor Sarah - hope you have a better day tomorrow.

I try to practise in front of the mirror (not a pretty sight!) as that seems to be the only way I can remember not to have my fingers sticking up in the air. Any other suggestions you could post would be gratefully received!

I was really in need of a good night's sleep last night so took one of my emergency supply of sleeping pills... I do that about once every two months when I'm really desperate! Unfortunately I have felt lousy today because of it...I had forgotten how drowst they leave me. At least I didn't have to work today, hopefully I will feel OK by tomorrow.

Finger things - so far (to paraphrase):

Do the things you are doing but in front of a mirror. Find one you can stand or sit comfortably in front of so you can watch. Scales are good, slow first.

Play T & G's 1st daily exercisae. It's just the first 5 notes of the major and minor scales. It allows you to focus on the evenness of notes and on your fingers.

Look at your fingers while you finger the the scales and patterns to make sure they're not reaching too high. (I'm assuming this is intended to be without blowing - which I might try now, less tiring than actually playing...)

Try working with a metronome and see if you can keep your fingers close to the keys and stay in time with the metronome.

Have you tried herbal sleeping tablets, Sarah? I have periodic bouts of insomnia and find Kalms generally do the trick, particularly when the airforce are practising night flying or the local foxes are having one of their nocturnal parties.

Thanks for posting the tips. My fingers seem to have a particular problem when going from the dreaded C# to just about any other note - they acquire a mind of their own!

Put a tissue over the fingers of your right hand. It will fly off if you raise your fingers too high.

QUOTE (woodwind @ May 19 2005, 07:27 PM)

Have you tried herbal sleeping tablets, Sarah? I have periodic bouts of insomnia and find Kalms generally do the trick, particularly when the airforce are practising night flying or the local foxes are having one of their nocturnal parties.

Unfortunately herbal ones always have one of two effects on me... at a lower dosage they just don't do *anything*, and I may as well not take them... then if I try upping the dosage at a certain dosage they will 1) knock me flat and 2) give me worse "morning after" symptoms than even the drugs... oh well!

andante: I'll try that

another tip I was given for the edification of you folks

to get someone to hold their hand right above your fingers, so if you lift them too high you bump into their fingers - works well apparently!