by Light Seeker » Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:43 pm
Every teacher I've ever studied under has stressed the importance of keeping your fingers together while playing, and if my pinky finger hangs a bit apart from the other digits, they are quick to point that out and remind me to keep my fingers together. But the thing is, EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of those teachers I've ever had, including Giovanni Hidalgo (only one lesson, though), as well as many people I've seen in videos, is guilty of doing the very same thing when they play, at least sometimes, if not most or all of the time. There's always that pinky finger, ever the non-conformist, standing apart from the rest of his brethren. I've seen this with every one of my teachers. So what's the fuss about? It's kind of difficult to keep your pinky together with the other fingers, and even a bit stiff and uncomfortable to. It doesn't seem to affect the sound in any way. So what's the big deal with all these teachers failing to practice what they preach? And why do they preach it in the first place?