Relaxed hands, held in close to the chanter — that is the first principle of finger technique. Almost every dexterity problem traces back to tension or fingers lifting too high. I say I think about it every single time I pick up the chanter, and most fingering fixes start right there.
Dexterity is trainable away from the pipes. Hand massage, wrist and forearm stretches, and finger-independence drills like Greg Irwin's Finger Fitness routine are cross-training for piping. Five minutes a day of exercises may be the highest-value practice time of your whole week.
Exercises don't have to be perfect — you just have to do them. Play slowly with a metronome, circle your trouble spots, and stop the moment your hands tighten up. Attention, not perfection, is what builds speed and prevents bad habits.
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Improving Dexterity: Techniques & Drills for Fast, Precise Finger Movements
59m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
20:52range Stretches motion for and of flow blood🔒
23:05drills Finger Irwin's Greg Fitness🔒
29:21fingers Cross-training your🔒
30:22gear and the pad foam thumb tie Gear:🔒
33:32troublesome Fixing F a doubling🔒
37:28with Note-transition metronome exercise🔒
43:11drilling spots your Finding trouble and🔒
48:19right mindset: done beats The perfect🔒
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About this class
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