I used to play drums. I am unable to do so now due to a sports injury to my legs. I am now considering taking up the piano for a new focus. However, I am concerned that the mechanics of my little finger on both hands will inhibit me from playing well. When I curl my smallest fingers into the palm of my hands my second smallest fingers also curls into my palm even though I try to keep my second smallest fingers upright. I know nothing about playing piano, and apart from these movement restrictions between my smallest and second smallest fingers my hands seem fine. So, can someone tell me if these finger movements I have will pose difficulty in playing?

Thank you,

Lewis.

Well if I've understood you, then my fingers do this too! I think everyone's fingers must do it and it certainly hasn't caused me any problems. If you do start having lessons, then over time your fingers will become stronger and more independent of each other anyway.

Good luck!

Rosie

Do you mean that when you curl your smallest finger the second smallest goes right in or does it just curl in a little? If it's the latter than it's perfectly fine. All human beings are like that. Have fun playing the piano!

I admit now that I can't curl my little finger independently and I don't have big problems playing the piano. Well, my fingers like to 'follow each other', much to my clarinet teachers disgust but it doesn't pose a problem.

Something you could do though that I have had my (extensive list of! haha!) pupils doing is:

Put your hand flat on the table and spread your fingers out comfortably.

Lift your fingers up one at a time individually but don't let your other fingers leave the surface of the table.

When you feel comfortable with that, draw your fingers up so they are resting on their tips. The space inside your hand above the table should be as if you have a satsuma under your hand. In fact, to get the shape right you could actually put a satsuma under your hand, but take it out, you don't want to be resting on it. this is the position you should always play the piano in: fingers curved on their tips.

OK: now try the same as before, lifting the fingers independently, it's a bit more difficult to keep your other fingers still because you don't have as much contact with the table top.

It's usually the 4th finger that's the most difficult!

Hope it helps and my explanation makes some sense!

I was told to "imagine that a hamster is underneath your palm when playing the piano". It doesn't feel comfortable though, so I make it a little flatter, so my fingers are a little straighter. Your fingers shouldn't stay in that position however. It should stay relaxed and fluid. Or so I've been told.

My piano teacher actually used a real hamster with some of her very young pupils! Unfortunately I had a different piano teacher when I first started and the hamster died before I moved teachers, so I never had the pleasure of meeting it...

I am sure it wont affect your playing too much. Good luck.