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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > Making Music > A question for pianists
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Author Topic: A question for pianists  (Read 327 times)
Catherine
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« on: 01:51:36, 08-04-2007 »
This is probably a very basic question, but it's one that I've been curious about for quite a while: is there always an indication of which fingers to use ( the numbers 1-5 )with piano music, and if so are these guidelines or strict rules that you must adhere to?

Thanks
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autoharp
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« Reply #1 on: 05:09:50, 08-04-2007 »
Hi Catherine
On most piano music there is no indication of which fingers to use - except perhaps on educational stuff. One fascinating exception is the music of Leopold Godowsky, about whom some discussion has been happening on this board.
Take a look at the examples which Ian Pace has put up http://r3ok.myforum365.com/index.php?topic=696.30 and the next (or was it previous ?) page. Looks pretty frightening doesn't it ! Most composers wouldn't be so presumptuous to put fingering on a score - there is, after all, probably more than one solution (so we're not talking strict rules). Having said that, some composers suggest a fingering now and again to get a certain effect. Godowsky was one of the most able pianists ever, so I imagine pianists are rather grateful for his fingering suggestions !
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Catherine
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« Reply #2 on: 20:12:59, 08-04-2007 »
Thanks autoharp, that was very informative.

The 2nd and 3rd Godowsky examples look frightening to read, let alone perform!
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eruanto
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« Reply #3 on: 20:28:51, 08-04-2007 »
fingering is also a very individual thing - and very problematic for teachers: the fingering my teacher might use for a difficult bit might be very different from the one i would use!
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #4 on: 01:22:30, 10-04-2007 »
Good points from all here. I'll just add two small points: some very old music from English publishers may have a bizarre fingering convention whereby the thumbs are represented by +, the index finger by 1, etc etc

Secondly, I have often thought it would be as or more useful to include helpful hints on hand position, movement of the wrist etc rather than just bald fingerings - by themselves pretty meaningless as an aid to playing... But then again, there are so many schools of thought on how the hand is positioned or moves that the words 'can of worms' come to mind...

There's no substitute for a pragmatic teacher (who then teaches one to think pragmatically for oneself!)
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