Not enough fingers

[barline]

I stumbled across this forum whilst searching for an answer to my (daughter's) problem, perhaps someone here can help?

My daughter has played the recorder for 2 years and has recently started having piano lessons (she's age 8). We're tearing our hair out trying to make sense of her distress at not having enough fingers! She says she can play music that goes up to G but is totally floored by the appearance of A (she says she has no fingers left). Her book doesn't seem to explain where she finds the extra fingers to play all the rest of the keys on the piano. I'm guessing she's supposed to be moving her hands up or something like that, but she's adamant that her thumb has to play C, her no 2 finger plays D, etc. So where is her no 6 finger for A?!

[chocolatedog]

Yes, she has to start moving her hands around. Which book is it? Either she has to move her thumb up to D and then the other fingers are 2 on E 3 on F 4 on G then 5 on A. Or depending on the book it might mean she has to stretch her hand slightly (keeping thumb on C) for 5th finger to play the A. If I knew which book and piece of music it is, I might be able to tell you which is needed. Some tutor books stay in the "middle C" position for so long pupils can find it very difficult to cope at first when they find they have to play somewhere else on the keyboard.

[barline]

It's the Complete Piano Player by Kenneth Baker - Book 1. She's okay until the notes start going beyond 1 to 5. I think it must be something to do with playing the recorder, she thinks each finger has its own key on the piano too and can't move anywhere else. She even calls the keys "1", "2", "3" etc, which I'm pretty sure can't be right. But who am I to tell her?!

[chocolatedog]

Ah - no I don't know that book. But yes, I've come across the odd pupil here and there who gets confused and calls the notes by the finger numbers rather than the actual note names of C D E etc. Does she have a piano teacher? You could try telling her that if each finger has its own key on the piano, she'd need 88 fingers!!!! And that would look pretty silly - 44 fingers on each hand!!!

[Steve Hopwood]

barline said:

It's the Complete Piano Player by Kenneth Baker - Book 1. She's okay until the notes start going beyond 1 to 5. I think it must be something to do with playing the recorder, she thinks each finger has its own key on the piano too and can't move anywhere else. She even calls the keys "1", "2", "3" etc, which I'm pretty sure can't be right. But who am I to tell her?!

I know this book - it is aimed at adults rather than children and fails there too. I echo CD's question. Does she have a piano teacher?

On the point of showing your little one that hands move around the piano, go to www.youtube.com and do a search on 'piano playing' or some such. You will find a video that will show her that two hands can indeed play all the notes on a piano.

[barline]

Gosh, thanks for all the advice. The YouTube idea is a neat way of proving my point without saying "Just do as I'm telling you" to her!
Yes, she does have a piano teacher, he's a friend of the family. She's only had a 'taster' lesson so far and starts properly after the Easter break. I have to admit I thought his choice of book was a bit strange though. I mean, she's more into Sue Bentley than popular songs from the 80s!

Oh dear. I'm not sure how I can ask him for something different. Can you suggest anything better?

[digby]

I think it would be difficult to ask for anything different, but it is unusual to use a first tutor book for that age group which goes beyond a 5 finger position. I usually start with Denes Agay learn to play the piano book 1 or Hal Leonard piano series.

It sounds like she is really keen anyway, and the most important thing is that she enjoys playing so doesn't lose the enthusiasm.

[Steve Hopwood]

barline said:

Oh dear. I'm not sure how I can ask him for something different. Can you suggest anything better?

If you mean something better than the Kenneth Baker book, then there cannot be many of us here unable to suggest one. That probably includes a few who do not play the piano at all. ;D

We would not agree on the best one, mind. ;D My current favourite for children under 11 is the John Thompson 'Easiest Piano Course'.

[barline]

Thanks, I'll see how things go but bear in mind your suggestions. I don't want to see her being put off from playing before she's even started.