Hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph Hoffman.
Today it's time for another finger power exercise. It's the "3-4 Finger Skip" this time.
Let's come to the piano to get started.
Well by now you're getting pretty used to these finger skips, so I bet you can guess what's going to happen with the "3-4 Finger Skip".
We're going to go finger 1 2 3 and then skip up to finger 4. So between fingers 3 and 4 you'll have the skip
and then we'll step all the way down, which will bring us to D. 1 2 3, skip to 4.
And then 1 2 3, skip to 4. And that will continue all the way up till we're back to C but one octave higher.
Now if you like,
since you're pretty familiar with these by now since you've already done the "1-2 Skip", already done the 2-3 Skip.
If you want to try this with me you can. I'm going to set my metronome to 92 beats per minute. And let's give this a shot.
I've got my right hand finger 1 on middle C.
I'll count 4 beats, and we'll begin. 1 2 3 4
3, skip up, and then step down.
1 2 3, skip up,
step back down, 1 2 3, skip up,
1 2 3, skip up,
1 2 3, skip up,
1 2 3, skip up,
1 2 3, skip up, step down, to C, and you're done. Of course I'm sure I don't even have to mention your great piano posture, and playing
and playing with great hand shape and a nice little wrist bounce as you play each note. Now let's try the left hand.
We'll put our left hand finger 1 on middle C,
and we're going to go 1 2 3, skip down, and then we'll step back up, 1 2 3 skip down, and then step back up.
all the way progressing until our finger 1 is on bass C.
Let's put the metronome at the same speed again, and we'll try the left hand stepping down. I'll give you 4 beats. Finger 1 of the left hand is on C.
1 2 3 4
And you're back to C.
Great work on the "3-4 Finger Skip".
I encourage you to practice this every day using your metronome.
Start at a slow comfortable speed one note per click,
then gradually increase the speed once you can play it 100 percent confidently and with no missed notes.
Happy practicing, and see you next time!
Whoa, I wonder if Mr. Hoffman realizes what a short lesson that was.
I think he set a new record.
Shorter than a sixteenth note.
With a staccato.
Played prestissimo. Hahaha
Well since we have some extra time, why don't you tell us a story Princess?
Oh that's a lovely idea!
Hey, come on in guys!
Yeah we've got room!
All right.
Well once upon a time, there was a musical monkey who loved to play the piano.
He practiced every day and every week he'd go to his piano teacher Mrs. Parrott down the street.
And every week his piano teacher would say,
Squawk!
Remember to practice slowly with your metronome!
Monkey would go home, and like a good little monkey, he wanted to follow his teacher's instructions, but
he was too scared to even consider practicing with a gnome.
Even if it was a metro gnome.
But, without the help of the metro gnome, monkey could never slow down. He never had a steady beat! He tried to play his best, but every week he'd go to his teacher and his teacher would say, Remember to practice slowly with your metronome!
Monkey got so worried thinking and thinking about the metro gnome, that he even started having bad dreams about it!
Hey, I just want to share some pointers about redecorating your kitchen.
Week after week Monkey would hear from his teacher,
practice with your metronome!
Until finally Monkey remembered what his father used to say:
Which was monkey for you, have to face your fears.
So Monkey decided to go introduce himself to the metro gnome, and ask if he could practice with him.
I'm a little rusty on my Monkese, but I think you said you want to practice piano with me? Cool, we can practice piano, and then we can work on your kitchen.
Together with the metro gnome, setting a slow and steady beat for Monkey,
Monkey finally started making good progress on his piano playing.
His piano teacher was so impressed in Monkey's next lesson.
What excellent playing! You must finally be practicing with your metronome!
And the moral of the story is to always face your fears,
and always remember to practice slowly with a metronome! The end.