| How do you type on the computer keyboard? Are | | | | Your thumb acts as a balance for the whole hand. It |
| you a ten finger or a one finger typist? Believe it or not | | | | rests lightly on the white keys. Avoid using it to play the |
| playing the piano is very similar to touch typing. Each | | | | black keys. Our wonderful opposable thumb is used to |
| finger has a specific task to perform. | | | | open and close the hand. It is also used as a pivot. |
| On the QWERTY keyboard, there are 4 main rows | | | | To practice the movement, place your right hand on |
| of keys and your fingers sit on the middle row of | | | | any 5 adjacent white piano keys. Move your index |
| letters. When you play the piano there are 2 rows of | | | | finger from the white key to the very next black key - |
| keys - white and black. | | | | by moving across. Try not to pull the hand backwards |
| When you place your fingers on the piano make sure | | | | or forwards. The movement should feel relaxed and |
| that they are naturally curved. Your 3 middle fingers | | | | easy. |
| are the longest so place them just inside the "boundary | | | | Play each finger in turn on the 5 white keys. Then |
| line" - where the black keys start. Each finger can then | | | | allow one finger to play a black key instead. As you |
| move across to the black keys when necessary. This | | | | gain in confidence you will gradually build up your skill. |
| may feel a little strange to begin with. Move from one | | | | Soon you will be playing the piano at 100 words per |
| key to another with as least effort as possible. Keep | | | | minute! |
| your wrists relaxed and your fingers soft and curved. | | | | |