Hi,

I just started teaching myself piano last week and am having a rather odd problem with my 5th finger, especially on my right hand. Whenever it is resting I tend to lift it up in the air. For whatever reason I just can't seem to keep it close the keys. Seems harmless now but it sure looks pretty silly. I think it's muscle memory from years ago playing viola coming back where it would normally be resting on the top of the bow stick. Seems to happen no matter how my arms/wrists are positioned.

Is this going to be a problem going forward? Any suggestions on how to correct this?

Thanks,
Kevin

I believe it's called "flying finger syndrome" - at least, that's what I call it. In my case, it seems to have disappeared in the past year or so, but I had it for about the first 3 years. Sorry, but I can't remember now what I did to correct it. I think it was partly just getting rid of tension.

Yes, tension and finger independence are keys to fixing this. Any time you notice that finger, stop, relax it.

The fourth finger can never be truly independent because it shares tendons with the third and fifth. So you raise the fourth, up goes the fifth, fourth goes down and the fifth - oops it's still there. You need to learn to relax it without thinking about it.

The good news: You can start now instead of waiting 30 years like me!

Oh I have the same sort of problems with fingers 4 and 5, except the other way around - these fingers like to randomly press keys just because the next finger is doing so. It's very annoying when your fingers misbehave isn't it?

My teacher told me to place my hand on a flat surface with fingers curved and then practice raising each finger separately and to do this lots while watching television. i don't really watch television, so I now do this while I am doing almost anything else. My fingers ached at first, but they are now getting better at doing what I want them to.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Yeah, my right hand needs a lot of conditioning. Not only am I left handed, but 12 years of viola didn't exactly do wonders for finger independence of my right hand. Maybe I can play bass piano...