Try this exercise for developing even strength in all fingers.

Free download

Students have asked about the short exercise I play at the beginning of the video. It’s one that I created for students in all 12 keys. Here is a free pdf with the exercise in the key of C: Solo Prep 017 in C Major.

Finger Staccato Technique

Finger staccato is a technique using two relaxed motions of the hand, open and closed, very evenly, like a pendulum.

Using the exaggerated but smooth movements I demonstrate in the video, you can develop strength, flexibility, and agility in every finger and both hands.

The dominant hand (usually the right hand) is typically the strongest hand of the pianist, and the strongest fingers are usually the index and middle finger.

The finger staccato technique is a very powerful tool for overcoming these limitations and allowing both hands and all ten fingers to achieve a full range of relaxed and confident motion for making beautiful music at the piano.

When practicing finger staccato technique, I teach my students not to worry too much about accuracy. We work on accuracy in other exercises. The important thing to focus on with this technique is the motion.

Finger staccato makes you somewhat fearless about aiming. You really can’t aim because you’re striking the keys from several inches above the keyboard. If you hit a bad note, then you hit a bad note.

Start working with just five notes at a time, then move up to a full scale, for example, C major. When you’re ready, you can also try the technique with the exercise in the free pdf at the top of this post. This exercise is from a series created by Jeff Lantz for Picasso Piano Academy™.

Finger staccato technique can be applied to virtually anything you’re working on. For example, if you’re having trouble with a difficult passage, slow it down and practice it using the finger staccato technique. Then gradually take it back up to performance speed.

And remember, when your muscles get stiff or sore, shake ’em out. NEVER play through pain. Musicians do not train like weight lifters who build bulk with short set of reps at maximum intensity. Musicians train for agility and endurance as well as strength, so we can play for hours without repetitive stress damage.

Featured Image: Blue Picasso Spectrum by Cat Masciola, 2018.