Hi! While learning music as a beginner, you may come across many discomforts when doing finger movements in the piano. Why is it so? Also, only a few fingers may feel discomfort and others may be quite easier. What’s the reason behind this?
Two muscle systems control finger movements on a large scale. The first system is the Flexor Digitorum system, and the second one is the Interossei muscles.
Let us learn one by one.
Flexor Digitorum System
The first system is the Flexor Digitorum system, in the upper part of the forearm near the elbow. These muscles extend with long tendons that run along the forearm, under the wrist, all the way to the knuckles and finger joints. This Flexor Digitorum muscle system enables us to have a firm hand grip, strong enough to carry our entire body weight when hanging from a tree branch.
This Flexor Digitorum system comprises the Flexors Digitorum Profundus and the Flexors Digitorum Superficialis.
The Flexors Digitorum Profundus runs from the elbow, along the lower arm under the wrist, to the 1st finger joint of each finger. The Flexors Digitorum Superficialis runs from the elbow, along the forearm respectively, under the wrist, to the 2nd finger joint of each finger. These muscles are used to curve and close the fingers of the hand.
To do this, however, another set of muscles named the Flexor & Extensor Carpi must hold the wrist firm to stiffen the wrist, otherwise the Flexor Digitorum muscles would roll up the fingers, hand and wrist like a bamboo curtain. The Extensors Digitorum muscles are used to straighten the finger and knuckle joints, opening the hand.
Why Flexor Digitorum Muscles Aren’t Suitable For Piano Technique?
The Flexor Digitorum muscle system is more powerful, and we use it continuously for most of our finger movements. However, these muscles are not suitable for a good piano finger technique.
The reason behind this is:
The muscles are located too far away from the required delicate finger action (away from the hand).
That causes stiffening of the wrist.
The keystroke becomes a pushing action rather than a freely rebounding gravity stroke.
This results in a lack of tone quality, resonance, clarity and fluency.
The excessive use of these muscles in piano playing can easily lead to repetitive strain injury (rsi) and inflammation of the wrist.
The Interossei Muscles
The second muscle system controlling finger movement is located entirely within the hand.
It consists of the Palmar and Dorsal Interossei muscles. These are grafted on either side of the metacarpal bone (palm bone) for each of the four fingers and run to the finger bone (phalange) just past each knuckle.
Used individually the Palmar interosseus pulls the finger sideways in one direction, the Dorsal interosseus sideways in the opposite direction. When used simultaneously the Palmar and Dorsal Interossei flex the knuckle joint forward and when the hand is in a horizontal position, downward.
Most importantly these muscles are located entirely within the hand palm, and therefore can flex the knuckle joint and achieve a proper finger action without stiffening the wrist.
Usage of The Interossei Muscles For Piano
For a good finger action in piano playing use the Interossei muscles and flex the fingers from the knuckle joints. This leaves the wrists relaxed and flexible. There is however a problem; in everyday finger movement, the Interossei play only a secondary and supportive role in flexing the knuckles.
The prime movers in knuckle flexion are the Lumbricals, for two reasons :
When the knuckle joint is fully extended the Interossei are parallel to and in line with the palm and finger bone. In this position, the Interossei cannot start to flex the knuckle joint forward (or downward).
The Lumbricals approach the finger bone at a larger angle than the Interossei. This means that they can flex the knuckle joint even when the knuckle joint is fully extended.
The Lumbricals are therefore the starter muscles for the knuckle flex action. The Lumbricals, being an offshoot of the powerful Flexors Digitorum Profundus are much stronger than the Interossei muscles.
We, therefore, rely on the Lumbricals to do most of the knuckle movements throughout our daily activities, including our finger actions on the keyboard. It now becomes clear that in order to develop a good finger technique on the piano it is necessary to reverse nature.
You must upgrade the Interossei from weak supporting muscles to become the Prime movers and learn to trust and rely on them in that dominant function.
To Maintain A Good Position
The knuckle joint is not straight but slightly flexed. The Interossei, to support the weight of the hand, arm or body and to assist when required to the gravity keystroke.
The Extensors Digitorum, to lift the fingers off the keyboard after they have played each note.
Keep the hands always over the keyboard (not in front of it) with the thumbs pointing downwards, so that the weight of the hand is supported by the fingers (Interossei).
Never pull the hand backwards, for this either causes the fingers to collapse or, in an attempt to prevent this, will bring the Flexor Digitorum muscles into action causing stiffening of the wrist.
Keep the hands balanced on the fingers, with a slight forward pressure towards the piano.
In this position, the Interossei can function as starter muscles. Develop Interossei muscle strength. Gradually the Interossei will become stronger. You will notice this by a most peculiar feeling within the palms of your hands: the interossei, as they become thicker, are pushing out the palm bones widening your hands.
Once the interossei have become strong enough to support the hand and arm it is time for the flexors and lumbricals to phase out their action.
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Reviewed by Goldsmth
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November 01, 2020
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