Again, continued reminders at lessons will solve the hand position problem. I put my hand, palm up, next to the keyslip and wiggle my fingers so that my fingertips will just touch the child's hand if the wrist collapses. I ask the student to go to the grocery store and, with permission, weigh his arm on the produce scale and report the finding. Some students have the habit of dropping their thumbs toward the floor when these fingers are not in use. Keep an eye on the shoulders.
Many students lift their shoulders as they concentrate intently on playing.
They need to learn what it feels like to keep the shoulders dropped, again, so they can sense immediately that something is wrong. Shoulder position doesn't affect hand position all that much, but it does introduce tension in the body, which causes fatigue and reduces enjoyment. Last updated on November 28, 1998.