How to Use Finger Preparation in Organ Playing?

When we listen to organ playing of real high level experts, we often marvel at how they can play without a single mistake. It seems like their music can be released directly to a CD recording. Moreover, these people can play flawlessly for hours.

Although there are a number of important reasons why real masters can play without mistakes, one technique which will help to achieve that is finger preparation.

Although very powerful, finger preparation is quite often overlooked and many people forget to take advantage of it. It seems so insignificant that they don't pay any attention to it.

The way finger preparation works is very simple. Your fingers should be in position for the next note right after they have finished playing the previous note. In other words, when you release the note, you have to be aware what the next note for this finger will be. For example, when playing the scale passage, we use thumb under technique.

To play the ascending C Major scale with the right we use 123 12345 fingering. This means that the note C should be played with the thumb, D - with the index finger, E - with the middle finger, F - again with the thumb, G - with the index finger, A - with the middle finger, B - with the ring finger, and C - with the little finger or pinky.

To apply the finger preparation technique for this passage, move you thumb in a position for F right when it finishes to play C. And the moment you release the E, your all five fingers should be prepared to play F, G, A, B, and C.

This is a very simple passage, of course. For more involved episodes, we have to think about the best ways to use finger preparation.

In addition, this technique is very useful for large leaps. It helps to prevent mistakes which otherwise may occur. When you encounter a large leap in the part of one hand, after finishing the previous note, try to move it right away to the position after the leap. This motion should be not circular but straight because it is the most efficient. If you practice this movement at least ten times, then it will begin to be very efficient.

At first, you will have to constantly keep your attention to this technique for several months at least. Later, however, if you insist on using finger preparation, it will become automatic and you will not need to think about it.

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