All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[reiner]

is it a penalty for using incorrect finger to play althou the notes keys are right?

[Dreamaurora]

reiner:

is it a penalty for using incorrect finger to play althou the notes keys are right?

No, ABRSM is very clear on this (assuming you are talking about ABRSM exams). ABRSM exams are music exams, not instrument exams, so the examiners only examine the end result and not the technique to achieve the end result. Even for scales, examiners are not allowed to penalise candidates for using wrong fingerings as long the scales are played securely and musically.

[waiyean]

From what I know, not all piano examiners plays the piano themselves. Hence, they may not even know you are using the wrong fingers.

However, the penalty may come in the form that if you use an awkward fingering, the tone may not come out as good.

[Aureusacademy]

As a general rule, examiners do not \"examine\" fingering, but rather results produced. And the variety of ABRSM examiners is so wide that it's not often that a pianist is judging the exam.


Fingering is an incredibly subjective thing in piano playing, and there are many editions by pianists (such Joseffy) who provide alternative fingerings for smaller hands. In addition to this, there are editions in which rather unusual fingerings are provided by the composer himself. This happens especially in the case of Brahms and Beethoven.

One extreme case is the Debussy Etude Pour le huit Doigts (8 fingers!) in which you are not supposed to use the thumb in either hands! There's a video of the great pianist Mitsuko Uchida playing it on youtube in which she uses the thumbs.

Some call it cheating, but her results are magical! See for yourself! = )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbqWzFMmMQ

[reiner]

Hi Dreamaurora gotta thank for your advise again n again…


Hi waiyean, Aureusacademy thanks for your pointer yah…

my girl prompt this qns to me… she finds it hard to stretch her fingers wide to play the keys… keke… me told her to follow the tr… think the tr shld be able to correct her fingers if doesnt sound right…

[waiyean]

reiner:

my girl prompt this qns to me... she finds it hard to stretch her fingers wide to play the keys... keke... me told her to follow the tr... think the tr shld be able to correct her fingers if doesnt sound right...

Hi reiner, how old is your girl?
My girl has the same problem too. Her fingers are not long enough to stretch an octave yet, hence have to rely on teacher to provide alternative fingering or using the pedal instead.

[reiner]

my girl is 7… but she is very small size… ex-tr and current one commented small hands…

[pirate]

Aureusacademy:

One extreme case is the Debussy Etude Pour le huit Doigts (8 fingers!) in which you are not supposed to use the thumb in either hands! There's a video of the great pianist Mitsuko Uchida playing it on youtube in which she uses the thumbs.


Some call it cheating, but her results are magical! See for yourself!

:offtopic: But, but, but, it's an etude.

[toffee]

Dear everyone,


I'm looking for a patient female piano teacher around Toa Payoh to teach my 6yo daughter. She has been learning music from a school for about 2 years and i would like to move her to 1-to-1. If the teacher can come by my house, that would be a bonus.

Any good recommendations/referrals from parents here would be greated appreciated. Please kindly PM me!!

Thanks! :please:

[jedamum]

Want to ask,


Do piano schools charge next grade fees after results out or after exams?

30min enough for grade two? Son’s current teacher only have one other free slot that is not our ideal time. Piano school admin said 30min should be sufficient for grade two fast learner but I find it too short. Son does not want to change teacher who has been teaching him for two years.