How to Fix Common Problems: Small Hands, Short Fourth Fingers and Funny Proportions
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- Опубликовано: 21 ноя 2020
- In this video we explore all the tricks needed to get around the issues presented by having small hands, short fourth fingers or odd finger proportions. From how to use your arms to maximum advantage to optimising your cello setup, this is your survival guide!
Julia Morneweg is a highly sought-after London cello teacher with an exceptional track record of student success. Her past and present students have held music scholarships at many of the most prestigious independent schools including St. Paul’s Boys School, Latymer, Alleyns, Francis Holland, Channing School, Sevenoaks and Hornsby House. She has given masterclasses and run workshops at institutions such as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the RCM Summer School, Enterprise Scotland and Tanglin Trust School in Singapore.
Her own performing career has seen her perform as a soloist and chamber musician at venues including the Purcell Room, St. John’s Smith Square, St. David’s Hall Cardiff, Zurich Tonhalle, Daning Theatre Shanghai and many others. She was a member of the Erato Piano Trio for twelve years and has performed as a guest with leading UK and European orchestras.
The break to her performance schedule enforced by the COVID-19 lockdown has finally enabled her to make this long-planned series of videos. Julia currently teaches students remotely via Zoom. Visit her website www.juliamorneweg.com for more information about lessons.
If you have a question or would like a specific topic explained in another video, leave a comment below! 
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Thank you so much!!This is really helpful. I have long fingers and big hands which always make me feel easy and comfortable to play the piano, but after I started to play the cello, it's horrible...I never awared that my little fingers are so short...far away from the third fingers. So big hands or long fingers are nothing to playing the cello...shock. It's really hard when practising, just hurt my hands these days. Thanks a lot that I found this video!!
And yes seldom teachers will tell you that choose the suitable instruments…but really like this and don’t want to give up. Really thanks for this lesson.
Thank you from a grateful short fingered, small handed elderly student
I'm so glad I found this video! As an absolute beginner and member of the short pinky club, it helps immensely! Thank you!
I've actually been using that first technique all along without even realizing it, especially when playing on the C-string. These were all wonderful tips especially the one about the bow hold and the fourth finger
Julia you are a genious! This is extremely useful tips for me, being beginner at 66 with small, but strong hands and with very very short fourth fingers. Let the whole body dance with you... Now - onwards and upwards! Thank you!
So happy to hear that it's helping you! Happy practising!
I have the same size hands as you and I struggle terribly. My intonation has been a real problem. I'm going to use this method and see if this helps. I have been making small shifts but this method makes a lot more sense. Thank you very much for this instruction.
There's no two ways about it - small hands do add additional intonation challenges! Check out the video I just posted about hand shape and particularly the section about alignment. I personally find that this is absolutely key for small hands because we just don't have any slack in the system to compensate. Also working on a video about intonation more specifically, so watch this space!
Brilliant lesson!!!! I have very small hands and have had to go from a full size cello to 3/4. I tried several 7/8 cellos but they were also too big. But, even with the 3/4 size, my hands are still small, with an especially short 4th finger. I will try your method
Great video, I was almost ready to give up. My short fingers have been causing me a lot of stress. I kept pushing through with the pain in the hands trying to ignore it.
I will diffidently try these tips.
Thank you so much Julia ! You give me hope ! 😍
Thank You. Indeed I have short pinky on both hands. I always thought I was holding my bow wrongly! My middle and ring fingers fight each other for the metal ring. Even my hands are too large! 😅
I just picked up cello but felt discouraged because my 4th fingers are also just under 2inches and I have small hands as well but this gave me so much confidence in knowing it's even possible thank you so much
Outstanding lesson
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for your video, I am an adult student, with very small hands and your tip on the use of the arm I found brilliant, I feel much more confident about being able to play without the frustration of trying to make my fingers go where they can’t at the moment.
Again Thanks
Jimmy Western Australia
Thank you for this information. 😊
Thank you thank you thank you!! I've just started taking Cello lessons, and never realized I had such a short pinky compared to other people until I started. You have the same hand as me! My teacher pointed it out because of my bow hold, she told me I needed to bring my pinky down further onto the frog and I said I couldn't. We compared hands and she was shocked!
I've had to figure a lot out on my own, and was wondering if I'd ever be able to play smoothly.
Thank you!!! I just started playing a couple of months ago and I too have a dinky, two inch pinky. I'm also 6'1". It's been wildly difficult learning so far, but this video literally fixed all the issues I've been struggling with. Thank you Julia , you just made sure I won't quit because of my Itty bitty 4th finger! ❤
Julia, this is so helpful, especially because you demonstrated how you yourself cope with having these issues. Thank you so much. You've got me hooked and I'll be watching all of your videos! Cheers from Northern California.
thank You !!
Julia~ This may be the most well presented, relevant and helpful cello technique video I have ever found. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with those facing similar physical challenges. What a difference you have made for me!
Thank you so much, Mark! This really means a lot, particularly in relation to this video, because the tricks I'm sharing in it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to arrive at. I could have saved myself years of frustration had I known about all of this when I started playing the cello! So if this helps even one person avoid the same arduous journey, I'll be very happy!
Absolutely agree
Probably the most important video I have ever watched!
Oh I am just like you, I'm also exactly 5'6" and have child sized hands...literally no adult I've met in my life has hands as small as me! They might even be smaller than yours (but my pinky is almost 2.25"! lol). These compensatory strategies have naturally developed for me over the years. Also, it's really important to keep in eye on where your thumb is (as well as your arm) if you're having a hard time reaching something. I honestly think that the only reason I can comfortably play a full size is the fact I grew up playing and my hand just became very flexible and just willing to play along. It was back when it was only acceptable to play a full size, and it's so good that these days smaller sizes are "acceptable" for adults. Anyway, several years ago I tried out a cello that's a full size but with a thinner neck than usual and I can't even tell you how much of a difference it made. The strings are way easier to press down and chords and double stops that I struggled with are easy now. It's just the extended double stops in first that are very hard still. I honestly have to say that I would suggest a 7/8 or 3/4 for people who can't get all their fingers down in 1st comfortably because they will be very frustrated trying to play double stops. Do you have any advice for playing them?
Great video. I have short fingers.
This is excellent. Thank YOU
13:30 💡
My rented cello arrived before I got my first lesson. I always had to be very creative with my tiny hands and super short forth finger, so I was somehow scared how I will be able to play the cello, but your video has given me great idea, since I noticed my arm move along when I took a look in the mirror to see if my hand was doing strange positions. So thanks, I will try this tomorrow and see how it works 😊
Dear Julia, thank you so much for your video on this complex subject. I have a similar hand to yours, only my index is shorter. For me at least it's actually the bone in the hand that's shorter, so this alters the knuckle alignment considerably. I used to play the violin and later changed to the viola. Unfortunately, neither instruments allow us room to make the elbow adjustments that you show work for the cello. It's generally agreed that playing action in the LH must initiate from the base knuckle joint. The further rotation (supination) of the wrist makes things even worse for the short pinky. In general, the most fundamental principle should to be to choose the fingerings according to our hand and not the other way around. It just so happens that for my hand the usual cello fingering system fits perfectly. Violinists and violists may want to try using chromatic 1234 fingerings (also used by guitarists) and come to terms with the need to shift more often, as cellists do. I made a crude silent video some time ago that I hope may be of help to someone out there. ruclips.net/video/O-HvRnBwcQY/видео.html
This is just awesome! Thanks a lot for this video, Julia. I started to play cello 10 months ago. I have pretty large piano trained hands with long fingers, but a very very short pinkie ( I was struggling with it to the point of extreme pain after practicing and was about to quit, thinking my hands were not suitable for cello. I checked a couple of videos with your amazing performance and that gives me lots of hope) Thanks for a very detailed and helpful video! Going to your website to see if you're accepting students!
Thank you so much, Iris! Feel free to drop me an email and we can sort something out.
Thanks for the presentation. My question is, with the method you do (moving left arm angle etc.), would it be problematic when you need to play double stops, chords and some unorthodox fingering patterns? Because when your pinky reach that way, the other fingers are relatively at different angles on the string and I wonder how/whether your method affect them.
Great video and tips. I also have a short 4th finger which is also slight bent inwards from the top joint to the tip and unfortunately I have hurt it trying to play the double stops in the first movement of Saint Saens Cello Concerto in A Minor in section C reaching from 3rd finger on B 4th position to stretch for the A natural on the A string as a double stop, I do move my arm forward to give me more reach but it still isn’t enough, I seem to be able to only get to the Ab , please have you any suggestions that could help. Thank you.
Simply use a 4/4 short scale. Same big sound but a scale length of 655 instead of 690. Makes a great difference with short fingers and arthritic hands.
Thanks Julia, i have a problem of a different sort, i injured my 3rd finger on my left hand long time ago, the finger tip doesnt bend anymore i can't play the guitar the regular way anymore, i use that finger for a slide though, i was wondering if you think i could learn how to play cello with an impairment such as this, thx Mark
I also have a small left fourth finger. Just measured ( was hoping to beat you lol). But we are tied at 2 inches. Thank you for this video. I really needed it.
Thank you! I too have a 2" pinky at 5'7" tall, but I ALSO have very short arms (I am doomed - lol). Should I try a 7/8" cello? I am really struggling as I advance (adult) especially in 4th position and with extensions.
Great explanations! What size cello do you use?
Hi Jason! A very small full size. But instrument size is less crucial than stop length, as I am explaining towards the end of the video.
I do not have small fingers but i have difficulties in the first position when it's stretched like in the exercise n. 79, 83, 83, 65 of Dotzauer... I hope one day you will explain something for this.. Amazing video
I think you might need these two videos:
Backwards extension: ruclips.net/video/WuomgprvRYA/видео.html
Forwards extension:
ruclips.net/video/gxSPZZfXWcA/видео.html
@@juliamorneweg5416 thanks you very much!
Thank you so much for this video! I've been searching for a while for cellists with short 4th fingers and their tips and tricks. I wonder if you have any tips on playing chords and double stops that has minor thirds or major seconds in the first position (eg Allemande from Bach's 3rd Suite)? I can eventually get them in tune, but my 4th finger always end up touching the next string so they are never clean. Thanks!
Thank you for the question! There is a simple trick with thirds: start by making the 4th finger 100% comfortable and arranging the arm accordingly so that it supports the 4th finger, NOT the 1st!!! (That's where it's easy to go wrong!) Keep the 4th finger round and supported and straighten the 1st as much as necessary to get the minor third. Check out my video on backwards extension - that should help to get you onto the right track!
That makes a lot of sense! Thanks!
Thank you for your suggestions which I will be trying. I have a question… at 19.07 of your video, for example, your pinky is flat at the first knuckle and bent only at the second, at the tip. Mine does the same. I cannot keep that finger curved but in my case it hurts. That finger aches constantly. (I am an older beginner.) How is it you play proficiently like that and yet it probably does not hurt? Do you have any suggestions to avoid that finger flattening?
Don't worry about that! Go with what your finger naturally does. Mine clicks and locks at the middle joint and there's nothing I can do about it. The only thing you need to worry about with regard to the fourth finger is that you really shift the full arm weight onto it for maximum support. Good luck!
I have a 2 inch baby finger too-! I have been searching for someone else who plays cello with a 2 inch pinky!! Pinky twin-
Can you explain how the elbow technique for the short pinky works for fast passages? I imagine it would have to be difficult to move the elbow from outer position (with the other fingers) to inwards when it came time for the 4th finger. That would be quite an elbow dance. :) I can't really imagine how that would work- Cheers- and thank you-
You simply keep it out. And that doesn't only apply to people with small hands. The most common reason people struggle with fast passages, especially those that go into higher positions, is that the arm is far too droopy to allow for easy shifting back and forth.
Great teaching & solution Julia
Does playing with tilted fingers help too or less?
Thank you Julia in advance
kind regards,
Valerio Adriano Zuccarello
Hi Valerio! Just clarify for me what you mean by tilted? Do you mean the hand leaning backwards and fingertips pointing to the bridge or playing with flatter vs rounder fingers?
@@juliamorneweg5416 thanks for the response dear Julia
This might help illustrate it:
ruclips.net/video/PUWvu1SQhV0/видео.html
Katz talks about Feuermann, Starker, Greenhouse technique „of slandering fingers“ but for Vibrato I guess 😅
I am wondering since I use this to reach the pinky #notes in first position
@@zuccacello3362 I see what you mean. As a rule of thumb I build the hand-shape from the fourth finger downwards rather than the other way round, ie first of all you make the fourth finger 100% comfortable and supported and then place the other fingers accordingly, which, with a short fourth finger, will give you a pretty square shape. A lot depends on context, though. If I vibrate on my 1st finger alone, it'll be tilted towards the fingerboard as I have enough time to rebalance the arm as I change finger. In fast passage work the hand will be square as that gives me the cleanest intonation. Would I tilt fingers 1-3 backwards in order to compensate for a short fourth finger? No, because it'll lack arm weight support and that usually affects sound and vibrato.
@@juliamorneweg5416 thank you very much
that is an amazing description
I don’t have short pinky problem but my 2/3 finger if not tilted are always next to each other.
You gave me a great insight. Thank you very much 🙏🙏
Looking at this again i rpeat my coment, get a scarla corta cello. But no one comments.
Thank you so much for your video, I am an adult student, with very small hands and your tip on the use of the arm I found brilliant, I feel much more confident about being able to play without the frustration of trying to make my fingers go where they can’t at the moment.
Again Thanks
Jimmy Western Australia