Finger Independence for musicians, pianist, guitarist, violinist.

There has been alot said about finger independence and I've been researching myself what is it that make your finger independent.

One thing you need to know is that brain is the center of all conscious action and what you need to be able to do is to know which finger you are moving exactly and make that motion as efficient and as effortless as possible.

First anatomy:
Muscles that move your fingers are at your forearms. and you use separate muscles for bending (flexing) and lifting (extending).
3,4,5 (or middle ring pinky) share one tendon and these are usually the problem for everybody.

All tendon goes through your wrists and thus they need to be relaxed so you won't waste any energy at the wrist.

shoulder, arms, they all need to be relaxed as they are connected to the sources which is your back.

Back needs to be straight but relaxed. This gives you balance and strength.


most important thing is you need to feel absolutely no pain and completely relaxed at all times even when you are playing fast and rather hard passages.
Moment people try technically difficult thing all kinds of tension in your body starts to show up and they are all bad. Sources of injuries. So please dont' hurt yourself.

Instrument specific guides will be the next thing but If you want to move your fingers like musicians (accurately, articulated, fast, etc etc for long long hours) that is a must. If you learn how to do this at any speed or any phrase you will play your instrument like a master. (at least technically, musicality is a different mastery)

Getting better at piano (or any other instrument)

I often think of what it means to be better at piano.

You practice to get better but what kind of practice really determine your progress. If you've played bunch of notes and if you are sounding like you can play in tempo then you've been wasting time.

Practice and getting better at musical instrument really requires you to be analytical about yourself. You are the one practicing so YOU have to know that you need to practice better.

Often times teacher neglect this simple fact or they are usually afraid that you are going to lose interest in learning or continuing lessons with them. Because it is a tough process. Judging yourself is some

It's psychological issue that always exist with lessons. I'm sure teachers are aware of it but this stuff needs to be taught differently for everyone.

Ability to pick those up and correct them yourself is really critical. Yet it's true that if you don't know music enough it's hard to tell.. and Teachers are there but it's also hard for them. They can't be overly analytical. Because that may impede your progress.

Very hard...

Yet you HAVE to do it. Somehow. I wish I could tell you.

If you are reading this and you're student, you should mention that you want to know HOW and WHAT to practice and in details. Learn the very basic of producing a tone.

Do one finger at a time. Slowly until you get used to it. try doing more things at once. That initial aha is important. but you have to remind yourself of other stuff too. So You will have to be going back and forth between what's relatively hard for you and what' seemingly way too easy (playing a single note)

But if you can play a single note like no other player can you've got your self a serious talent. Just know that. That's what you should look for when you play an instrument. Your individuality. and How you can get that individuality into all notes and all interpretation.


I think all these legends have that in common. They know how to play a note like no other. So don't underestimate the power of practicing to play a single note. Very important. Could be more important that learning a song.

If you are serious about music just ask yourself what's there that only you can do. And develop and hone your talent. Be critical and motivate others (especially your teacher) to critique more. Willing to take them into account. Try recording youself and analyze what can be done or try to ask more question so you will know why who ever made that particular advice thought that way.

Turn everything into a positive energy. Take everything in.

Musical Instrument Warm ups and Practicing piano, guitar, violin, scales, etc.

I'm curious as to what people do when you do warm up.

Piano playing is not a simple task. It's composed of collection of complex muscular activities. Almost in a martial arts teaches. Difference is the purpose. Martial Arts whatever you want to say about it, it's the art of killing. I'm from Japan so I know about spirits, samurai, philosophy but it is the killing you do with it. Music on the other hand is to express ideas. Enrich people's life. Maybe it's yourself and your greatness you want to express.. but generally Composition has emotional or intellectual, philosophical meaning to be expressed.

Going back to practice so how can you find that in scale, hannon, stuff like that? That's the kind of the thing you want to be thinking when you play these things.

You can learn all the notes in scales. but You have to realize you don't need piano or any instrument to learn them and note names. They have to sound certain way. or many different ways to be exact. Where you accent, how soft you want to play. How long to keep notes or spaces. Those are the point you need to focus on when you practice.

Guitarists!! Playing fast seems cool at first but if you are only playing bunch of notes without any dynamics you are just showing off. All fast playing and all the things people just start dreaming needs purpose. (Hopefully other than amazing others with how fast YOU can play.. and not for your own ego boost)

For your good, think of how to play scales
Not just fingering, not just notes. learning them and moving in the way that book tells you to do is the part. ANYONE can do. Think of WHY you need to play them on that instrument. and why you want to play them with the instrument you picked or you play. Musical instruments all have different sounds and you want to get to know them in depth. Scale practices are very important because of that. You can keep all notes the same and basic theory of it is universal but you can just keep playing them and you'll never run out of things you can do with them. This scale practice is that deep.

The expression or your unique idea is YOUR part and you should practice that. You should concentrate on making them come forward. and You should really be listening and asking yourself if this is really what you want.


There are other issues in this regards.. (like how you should move or use your body to get those qualities you are looking for when you play scales, or anything..)
but that's what you should be practicing. I don't want to hear 32nd note scales at tempo 300. Meaningless. You just wow and you'll be forgotten the next moment.


books:
the craft of piano playing - alan fraser
art of violin playing - carl flesch
effortless mastery - kenny werner

Violin Intonation

I'm working on my violin intonation pretty much everyday. Its very interesting. You notice so many things that You don't when you are on guitar.

first pitch changes when you press. and how fast your press or "Release" into another note affects how quickly it will be in tune.. if you get the correct place to press that is...

that concept is very interesting. Right now, this is almost a disadvantage but if you could musically control this it's really cool what you can do..

bow changes pitch as well (although people don't tell you to control pitch from the bow.. ) and there are way too many thing you can do.



On playing guitar with the bow. seems like it's better to press your frets. rather than those spaces in between. You are getting semi fretless effect when you do that.

Guitar and Violin Playing - Pinky hell

I've started playing violin and since my left pinky has started to function very well.

Violin has really small, or thin neck as you know and that actually made me realize how important the grip was.

basically you have to have two things in your mind.

1. you and your hands have to be relaxed!
2. you apply necessary pressure when you need them. quick press and slight release. volume knob 10 -> 8 the moment you press it.

you have to make your pinky feel like other finger. you have to train it so that you know exactly what muscles move pinky. Flexor and Extensor muscles are almost at where your elbow is. try moving you pinky by itself and look at where it moves. that's what you need to train.

also you have to know Middle, Ring, and Pinky all are connected. shares one muscle. Finger independence is actually not possible. You really have to feel their differences and connection.

exception there is to a pinky because you can actually move your bottom joint (one that connects to your palm) pretty freely. and you have to move pinky from there.



anyway so the GRIP.
you basically have to find where your pinky can gain the most power. it is a weak finger. it's small but there is a point where you are grabbing the neck. and You feel that energy is spread out evenly onto each fingers.

next time you grab your guitar, try grabbing from your bottom joint. Obviously you only want finger tip to touch the finger board but you lay down your fingers from your bottom joint..

I wish I could explain this to you using pictures but try that.