To those of you who are violin or viola teachers: I’d like to introduce you to a little gadget I developed over a couple of decades of teaching. It’s called the Finger Finder.
I used to draw diagrams for students about finger patterns in different keys and finally realized that all keys could be represented in one slide rule. It wasn’t until I designed it that I found that it really worked well to incorporate all the keys into a single pattern of fingering, and after testing it with students and other teachers, I have found that they use it regularly.
The Finger Finder is a visual complement to scales and arpeggios. By indicating the spatial relationship between the fingers, and not just having circles on a line, the Finger Finder also eases student anxieties about unfamiliar keys–students just dial up a key or key signature and see the finger pattern. It doesn’t focus on the names of notes, but on the fingering. I find that worrying about the note letters and accidentals can clutter things up when the issue at hand is how to conceptualize the fingering pattern for a particular key. Beginners also get a clear picture that fingering is a finite proposition–sometimes they feel it’s a dark mystery unless they have lines taped to the fingerboard. I personally avoid the fingerboard tapes.
The Finger Finder allows me to better separate out student tasks: bowing, sound, timing, reading notes using the correct fingers–these are all tasks separate from intonation. That’s where the Finger Finder can help them put those correct fingers in the correct places. Trying to get all these skills right at all times is daunting, but knowing that each can be improved separately, and brought together, is encouraging and instructive.
After working out details of design and function and manufacture, and heeding a friend’s offer to help me file for a patent (he was a laid off patent attorney and fiddler), I manufactured the Finger Finders, with a special slide showing fingering in 2d and 3d positions, and a version for viola (I even made one that included both violin and viola on the same slide).
Recently a student of mine who is concertmaster of a regional orchestra had a mental block about a passage he had to solo on, and we determined that that measure was really in Gb. We looked up that key in 3d position and he was able to relax and play with confidence, using a comfortable fingering with the correct half-steps, instead of always feeling he needed to play lower somehow, because of all the flats on paper.
The proof of the Finger Finder’s usefulness came when Shar Music and Johnson Strings (these links take you to the right page in case you’re interested; it’s also available through Young Musicians) started carrying it, and to their surprise, there has been a continuing interest from their customers. I was very glad to know that people found it useful; I hope you do too! If you happen to have already found it and use it in your teaching, or if you have questions, please add a comment about it below, thanks!
The Finger Finder is also available through my website.
Do you have finger pattern diagrams for violin, viola, cello, and bass? I teach 5th/6th grade orchestra and would like to have a diagram they can refer to …. Thanks. DS
@Denise: I have the fingering slide rules for violin and viola. Cello and bass are a little harder because fingering patterns aren’t as consistent; still I plan on consulting with cellists and bassists to see about that.
This seems to be a very helpful gadget. Thanks for sharing, Mr. Pearlman!
Very informative post. Your students had surely learned a lot from you. Thanks for sharing what you know about violin. Please continue to do so.