Download Fingering - Thomas Owen Mastroianni

To Teach is to Serve
by
Thomas Mastroianni
Fingering
and
Memory
Conventional Fingering
Scales and Arpeggios
White Key Tonic
8 - note Scales
Black Key Tonic
Arpeggios
Minor
8ves , 6ths, 3rds
Chromatic
Chromatic thirds
Physiological Principles
Long fingers on black (b), short fingers on
white (w)
In crossing over the thumb, w to b is often
shorter distance than w to w
Crossings take time (slowest scale is
454545)
Physiological Principles
Arch at the hand knucle brings
fingertips closer together.
Finger repetition on the same note may
cause fatigue but for short bursts may
be more efficient.
Excessive hand displacement can
affect tone.
Scales
White Key Tonic
Major or Minor
Black Key Tonic
Major or Minor
Black Key Tonic
Minor
LH 4 on ii
(Except
B Major)
LH 4 on Gb
(F#)
or iv
Exceptions
(Ab Har.
Min.)
RH 4 on vii
(Except
F Major )
RH 4 on Bb (
A#)
Exceptions
(C# & f # min )
Chromatic Scales
• Chromatic – thumb on alternate white
notes (slowest = 131312313131)
8 - note Scales
• 1234 1234 / or other 4 note combinations
such as 3412 3412 (as RH from Ab)
Arpeggios
Triads
•
•
•
•
RH
LH
White note root 5-3-2-1 1-2-3-5
Black not root
3-1-4-2 3-1-2-4
All black – same as all white
Bb minor
2-3-13-2-1-
Arpeggios
7th Chords
Black note beginning:
• RH – Thumb on the first white note
ascending
• LH – Thumb on the last white note
ascending
8ves , 6ths, 3rds
Chromatic thirds
• 8ves and 6ths -- thumb plus 5
-- 4 on black ? / ulnar deviation
• 3rds 1-2 /1-3 / 2-4 / 3-5
• 3rds 1-4 / 2-3 combinations
• Chromatic 3rds or 4ths
1&5 always on white/ 2&3 always on black
4 always on b & e or on f & c
For example
top note RH asc. From Eb 345353534535
bottom RH asc. From C 121221212122
Memory
Physiology
• Neural Pathways – Memory is change in
brain configuration.
• Encoding and repetition
• Neurotransmitters and emotion
• Cognitive memory vs Cerebellar memory
Conscious vs Procedural (automatic)
• Semantic vs episodic memory
Understanding Forgetting
•
•
•
•
Forgetting is a blessing
Interference – lack of clarity
Pathway misdirection
Interruption of automatic (procedural)
pathways
• Recall out of context
• Anxiety
Analysis
• Direction of cognitive memory
• Similarity and interference
• Semantic Memory and Musicianship