At 1/28/15 06:35 PM, Grandvision wrote:
I really want to know how to properly play the keyboard with your fingers, which positioning, how to switch from key to key with which finger.
Have you considered going to a teacher and taking private lessons? They can be a bit pricey but they're a great way to not only learn the keyboard properly and correct any mistakes you make but also motivate you to keep on top of your practising. If there are no affordable/good piano teachers close to your area, I think instrument lessons over Skype are a thing, so that's something to consider.
Also, if you really want to get serious, then try and find a fully-weighted keyboard, ideally with the full 88-key range (or a full-blown piano works too of course haha). They do not come cheap but IMO you won't be able to properly develop your keyboard-playing with semi-weighted keys. Having said that, I could be wrong. I've never physically compared a fully-weighted keyboard with a semi-weighted one so I don't know how extreme the difference is.
I do have some general tips on playing style to get you started though. This is what I've picked up throughout my eight years (and counting) of going to piano lessons:
1.) Keep your wrist roughly level with your knuckles. Make sure your hand is arched/round.
2.) Your fingers will, most of the time, be hitting the notes close to their edges (but not too close). When playing white notes, avoid moving your fingers inwards (into the area between the black keys) unless you need to. Also, play with the tips of your fingers. Don't flatten them.
3.) The strength of each note press should be coming from the fingers themselves, not your arm. Your arm/elbow/wrist remain stationary unless you need to perform awkward turns.
4.) Keep elbows close to your hips. This is especially important when your arms need to stretch outwards for very low or very high notes. Your arms should stretch out like: \o/ not like: |_o_| (look at those from a top-down perspective).
5.) Don't be afraid to lift your fingers when striking notes. Do not lazily leave them stuck on the keys (as tempting as it may be).
6.) In terms of posture: loose shoulders, straight back and elbows level with piano keys. If your chair is adjustable, be sure to adjust it to make sure you can comfortably meet all those criteria.
And two other general tips:
1.) Whenever you tackle a new piece, practise it with one hand, and then the other. Only when you feel confident practising each hand's part separately should you attempt to tackle it with both hands.
2.) Scales are like the keyboard's Swiss Army knife. They give you everything you need. With them, you'll gain finger dexterity, accustom yourself to the geography of the keyboard, loosen up your fingers, and on top of all that, gain knowledge on how to play different scales with different key signatures. Start with the easiest (C Major) and work your way to the harder ones, adding in more octaves when you feel confident. Also, make sure you're playing them with correct fingering. Look up videos and online sources. They'll teach you how to play scales, where to make the turns, etc.
Be sure to also throw arpeggios and chromatic scales in the mix, and practise with both a legato and staccato touch. A word of warning though: arpeggios are assholes. Give them extra attention because they may well be some of the hardest standard finger exercises. Another neat thing is to try and add dynamics to your scales. Start them softly, crescendo to the high note, and then diminuendo back to soft. This will get your fingers accustomed to playing in different dynamic levels and changing dynamic in realtime. Oh, and scales aren't a one-time thing that you can abandon once you master them. They are the ultimate "warm-up" when you need to play the keyboard and they keep your fingers in shape, so keep them up, as mechanical and repetitive they may be.
Hope that helps.
