Fundamental Movements
Repeated Notes (2.4)
Editors routinely suggest changing fingers on repeated notes at any tempo. When playing repeated-note passages, it is worth questioning what fingering will produce better musical results.
- Particularly at slow and medium speeds of repetition, it is often advantageous to choose a fingering that features repeating the same finger.
- Combining a three-dimensional, whole-body preparation and follow-through while repeating notes with a single finger facilitates musical direction and phrasing as well as evenness of tone.
CPE Bach - March in D
- Editors routinely notate 321321 for the left hand’s repeated notes.
- Experiment by playing this passage either by playing only with finger 2 or 3, staying close to the sound point for the repetition.
Tchaikovsky - Children's Album, Op.39 no.5 (March of the Wooden Soldiers)
- Editors routinely notate 4321 in the left-hand repeated figures.
- Experiment with other options such as 2121.
- Question all editorial markings to see if they make sense to you technically and musically.
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Fred Karpoff
Winner of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award presented by MTNA, Fred Karpoff has performed as soloist and collaborative pianist on four continents and presents workshops throughout the world. After recovering from a career-threatening injury, his life’s work is realised through guiding teachers and pianists toward more efficient, healthful and expressive playing as the Artistic Producer of Entrada Piano. Fred has served as Professor of Piano at Syracuse University and Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. He holds the DMA from the Peabody Conservatory and is an international Steinway Artist.
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