Strengthening fingers
Found in: Musicality, Pedaling, Technique
Gabrielle K., Iowa
Does anyone have any students that have trouble with finger strength? I worked with this particular student on some finger and wrist stretches to get him loosened up, and am wondering if you have had any experience/suggestions for this.
Heidi M., Canada
My youngest (6 years at the time) had that problem for a while. I asked him to try to use his weakest finger for ringing the doorbell and he thought that was pretty funny, and this new practice did seem to help. For difficult chords, I just told him to do them slowly and gently 5 times in a row but to stop if anything hurt. He is much better now, partly through practice plus his hands have grown.
Leeanne I., Australia
Yes, especially the little fingers. The strength will come with practice. Make a joke of it. I say “Oh, your fingers need to grow some muscles”. After a few weeks you can see the strength happening and can say “Oh, I can see you have grown some muscles!”
Gabrielle K., Iowa
My student with the issues is an adult. I have a few students that tend to tense up like they’re getting ready to fight before they play a song. I make them stop and shake their hands out and start over.
Heidi M., Canada
My very first student (an adult) had that problem. We think it was because of her years of computer programming. She played as if she had to do an Olympic sprint faster than anyone else! I often suggested she play the song imagining she was on a vacation resort near a beach with a forever vacation, not having to go anywhere. She would laugh and eventually a year later is much more relaxed in her fingers.
Kerry V., Australia
I work with the arms, not ‘strength’ in fingers.
Ian B., California
Arms, gravity, and balance are proper technique to avoid over use of fingers and potential repetitive motion injury. However, for beginners, finger strength and dexterity still are necessary. Two things I use are 1) table tops (or desks, keyboard cover, anything flat). Something about the flat surface not giving shows fingers to balance and press while creating more resistance than a keyboard. 2) Isometric exercises like placing all RH finger tips against LH finger tips and then pressing together trying not to let knuckles break. I emphasize to students that these are exercises that can be done any time. They do not require a keyboard or much thought but can improve strength almost overnight.