Doing the Splits

When to Do These Exercises

These exercises give your hand a workout. Follow these guidelines.

• Do only after the hand and fingers are well warmed up.
• Do with minimal tension.
• Rest and relax hand as needed.
• Work towards a slow gradual improvement.

Goals for the Exercise

Strength -- move and control 

Flexibility -- stretch and bend

Accuracy -- vertical key press at center of button

Relaxed -- effortless and smooth motion of entire arm

Same Sound -- each note has the same attack, sustain, and release. Start as detached notes, then eventually move towards a smooth legato, and then to a crisp staccato.

Speed -- work towards an even speed for all notes. Start at a slow tempo. Eventually work towards a faster even speed.

Space Between the Fingers

An advantage of the chromatic button accordion (CBA) is that there are more notes in a given space compared to the piano and the piano accordion.

The span of notes that could be reached on a CBA may be twice as wide as what could be reached on a piano:

• a third instead of a second
• a fifth instead of a third
• an octave instead of a fifth
• two octaves instead of one octave.

Notes played across a wider span can produce a more open sound than notes played within a narrower span.

Doing the Splits with the Fingers of Both Hands

A similar exercise could be used with the left hand, but I will explain the exercise for the right hand.

Fingers One and Two --

Put and keep the first finger (thumb) on the lowest note of the third row from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Using the second finger, on the outside three rows play a chromatic scale up to the maximum extent possible, then play the scale back down.

Repeat playing the chromatic scale on rows two, three, and four from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Repeat playing the chromatic scale on rows three, four, and five from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Fingers Two and Three --

Replace the thumb with the second finger on the lowest note of the third row from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Using the third finger, repeat playing the three chromatic scales.

Fingers Three and Four --

Replace the second finger with the third finger on the lowest note of the third row from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Using the fourth finger, repeat playing the three chromatic scales.

Fingers Four and Five --

Replace the third finger with the fourth finger on the lowest note of the third row from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Using the fifth finger, repeat playing the three chromatic scales.

Doing the Hand Stretch with the Fingers of Both Hands

A similar exercise could be used with the left hand, but I will explain the exercise for the right hand.

Fingers One, Two and Five --

Put and keep the first finger (thumb) on the lowest note of the third row from the outside edge of the keyboard.

Using the second finger play the second octave note. 

Using the fifth finger play the third octave note.

Play the three octave notes chromatically up the keyboard to the maximum extent possible, then play back down the keyboard.

Two Videos on Finger Stretching

Finger Stretches Piano Lesson - Josh Wright Piano TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNCu2Nbpxcw

Part 1: 10 Exercises for Hands without Piano (excerpts from Czesław Sielużycki)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTptqn9U6fU