Fingers

Group A - Exercises on individual fingers.

These exercises work on developing strenght in each of the fingers. Practice routine is as follows;
a) Play each exercise through with one hand, then the other. Repeat this sequence four times.
b) After working with each exercise individually, try combining them into one continuous routine.
c) Play first at a slow tempo. Later, increase the tempo setting.
d) The numbers underneath the notes indicate which fingers are to be used. Remember to keep the unused
fingers away from each other and the stick.

1                   
3 3 3 3 etc.

                
4 4 4 4 etc.

                 
5 5 5 5 etc.

2  
  3 3 3 3 3 3 etc.
                 

                        
4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.

                         
5 5 5 5 5 5 etc.
3                       
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

                     

4                           
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

                         

5                               
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

                             

6                                   
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

                                 
Group B - Finger combinations.

These exercises deal with combining the fingers in succession, first in groups of four, then threes, and finally twos.
Play each exercise through starting with one hand, then the other.
Repeat this sequence four times for each exercise.
Work on all three exercises as a set, moving directly from one to the next with no pause.

7                           
3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 etc.

                         

8                           
3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 4

             
5 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5

9                           
3 3 4 4 5 5 3 3 4 4 5 5 etc.

                         
Group C - Fulcrum / Finger mixtures.

In these exercises, the fulcrum is also used to execute some of the notes. This will help to develop strength in the
fulcrum fingers, and make clear the differences between using the fulcrum, as opposed to a finger.
Use the same practice procedure as for the previous exercises. (Note, f = Fulcrum.)

10                                   
f f f f f f f f etc. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 etc.

                                
f f f f f f f f etc. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 etc.

                                 
f f f f f f f f etc. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 etc.

11                                   
f f f f f f f f 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

In working through these exercises, you will have developed a basic degree of control and
flexibility with the fingers.
To continue this process, it is suggested that finger practice, (using either these or similar exercises),
be incorporated into your daily routine.