Playing with all your fingers

Sit relaxed at your piano, and rest your right-hand thumb and fingers lightly on the keys - as shown on the facing page. Your thumb (1) should be on Middle C, your index finger (2) should be on d, your middle finger (3) on e, and so on. (Do not put your left hand on the keys at the moment - let it rest on your left knee.)

Your whole right hand should be relaxed and resting so lightly that none of the keys are pressed down. Each of your fingers should be slightly curved, but the thumb should be straight.

Now, play Middle C several times by moving your thumb (1) up and down slowly as you count a beat - 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Next press down your index finger (2) and play the note d. Then lift your index finger slowly while you press down your middle finger (3) to play the note e. Do this several times - d e d e d - as you count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4. Your fingers should appear to be 'walking' from one key to the next, making the notes sound smoothly one after the other.

Relax and rest your right hand on your knee, while you play with your left hand. Put your left thumb (1 ) on G, the index finger (2) on F, the middle finger (3) on E, and so on - as shown on the facing page.

Play G several times with your left thumb (1) while you count a beat.
Then play E F E F E several times by 'walking' the middle finger (3) and index finger (2) smoothly from one key to the next while you count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4.

TRAINING YOUR FINGERS
Practise this for a few minutes every time you play to train your fingers to move independently. Walk your fingers from one key to the next to make your playing smooth and professional sounding. Play each hand separately at first, then play with both hands at the same time. Start very slowly, and try to make each note sound equally loudly.

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