Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum How to teach trills to little kids?

I have a 9-year-old student who can't play trills, mordents, and other ornaments if her life depended on it. She's proficient in playing scales and 16th-note runs in the R.H. Her L.H. runs need some work, but they aren't too horrible. Since she also has small hands, I've been choosing sonatinas and simpler Bach pieces for her, but those are getting too easy for her.

Are there specific exercises that teach speed and endurance for playing fast ornaments? I'm out of ideas...

For trills I have them practice each of their fingers.

Trill with 1-2, then 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-4, 3-5, and 4-5. Both hands. I only have them do it together if they want to, that's not really important.

Some of those fingerings very challenging, but they are great for the exercise and the loosening up of their fingers.