When you’re playing, you want your fingers to be very light on the keys.
If you’re using too much pressure, the keys make too much noise when you’re playing. And in the flute world, that’s just not acceptable. Because, well we can fix that. And if we can, then we must.
So, you want to have your fingers light.
And I have found that when students are tight through their shoulders and through their arms, they have tight fingers.
Tight Shoulders Means Tight Fingers
So, if you relax your shoulders, relax your hands, and just gently put your fingers on, and think about all you need to do is have enough pressure to close the key.
Enough pressure to close the key.
Not to jam it down and leave it there. But just enough weight to go down. That’s all you need. Have your fingers be light. It’s much easier to play with speed and agility when your fingers are light.
Of course, there are some pieces that are going to use key slaps – the slapping sounds that the keys make when you hit them hard. But in general, you don’t need to have that kind of pressure. You just want it light.
See how fast your fingers can go when you practice with a light touch.
Let me know how this works for you.
Have Fun!
Dr. Flute
Watch me demonstrate this: FluteTips 5 Finger Touch
Curious about my opinion on all 10 fingers?