Acknowledgments.

The Rocket Piano series was created on behalf of Rock Star Recipes LTD.
Author & Music: Asheigh Southam.
Edit & Graphic Design: Unica Design LTD
Multimedia Content: Rock Star Recipes Studios
Publisher: Rock Star Recipes LTD

Copyright 2005 Rock Star Recipes Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Fingering techniques and warm ups

This book has been designed to develop and increase accuracy and finger speed. One
of the most important aspects of playing the piano is getting the correct fingering. Having
agile and fast fingers for playing the piano is essential for any pianist whether they are a
beginner or a virtuoso. This book is therefore useful for any pianist at any level.
Before practicing it is a good idea to warm your fingers up. When you first sit down at the
piano your fingers might feel a little clumsy or stiff. These exercises are perfect for getting
your fingers limber and ready to play.
These exercises have been developed to gain finger independence. This means that each
finger can work independently of the next so you get more control over each separate
finger. It is also designed to exercise the wrists and help them gain flexibility.
Generally what happens is if you are right handed you will find that your right hand is
naturally faster than your left. It is important to develop equal speed in both hands, to
become a competent pianist. These exercises are designed to be played by both hands
at equal speeds. That way your left hand will get as fast as your right. Many complicated
songs have intricate and difficult parts for the left hand. So agility, speed and strength are
important in both hands.
Like any good exercise the drills in this book are repetitive. This is so that after a few
patterns you should be able to continue the rest of the exercise without having to follow
every note. The same patterns are just repeated on each note of the scale. You should
find the patterns very easy if you follow the system laid out in this book.

Page 

This book will increase your abilities as a pianist and will have you playing like a professional.
These exercises should be played daily to get the full effect. In next to no time you will
notice the improvements in your playing.
There are 14 exercises in total.
The metronome mark:

= 54 - 110

This means that you start playing the exercise at 54 the first time around then gradually
increase the speed up to 110 when you get better at playing it. All of the exercises are
designed so that you start slow and speed up as your fingers become faster and adapt
to the patterns.
Ive also included the Rocket Piano Progress Tracker so that you have a checklist of all
the techniques you can expect to learn in the course. Once you have mastered a lesson
or skill tick it off on the Progress Tracker, and move on to the next lesson! Commit yourself
to ticking off the skills you learn as you go and see your improvement instantly!

Ruth
Hear a personal message from Ruth!

54

Page 

Table Of Contents
Fingering techniques and warm ups...................3
Rocket Piano Progress Tracker...........................6
Exercise one .......................................................7
Exercise two........................................................9
Exercise three................................................... 11
Exercise four.....................................................13
Exercise five......................................................16
More about the exercises..................................19
Exercise six.......................................................20
Exercise seven..................................................24
Exercise eight....................................................28
Exercise nine.....................................................31
Exercise ten.......................................................34
Exercise eleven.................................................36
Exercise twelve.................................................40
Exercise thirteen................................................41
Exercise fourteen..............................................43
Conclusion.........................................................45

01

01
Every time you see this
button, play the relevant
track!

Every time you see this

button, play the relevant
video!

Page 

Rocket Piano Progress Tracker

Lesson or Skill

Page # Date Signature

Exercise the 4th and 5th fingers

Exercise the 3rd and 4th fingers
Stretch fingers across octaves
The C (common) time signature (4/4)
time signatures
The thumb under 3 finger technique
8th note triplets
Fingers 1, 2, & 3 in both hands
Trills
8va an octave higher
3rd intervals
Fingers 2 & 4 in both hands

Page 

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Exercise one
This exercise stretches the 4th and 5th fingers of the left hand when ascending and the
4th and 5th fingers of the right hand when descending.

01
q = 54 - 110

24

24

Descending

11

16

21


Page

11

16

21

26

Page 

Exercise two
02
q = 60

42
1

42

descending

13

Page 

17

21

25

29

Page 10

Exercise three
This exercise is designed to work the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers on the left and right
hands.
Ascending.............L.H fingers 3, 4

R.H fingers 2, 3

Descending...........L.H fingers 2, 3

R.H fingers 3, 4
03

24
q = 54 - 110

24

descending

11

16

21

Page

11

16

21

26

Page 12

Exercise four
This next exercise is quite difficult so take your time and be patient! This exercise is
used to stretch each of the fingers across the octaves.

04
q = 54 - 110

24
1

24

descending

13

17

13

Page

13

17

21

25

29

Page 14

Next exercises
The next exercises are slightly longer and a little more tricky.

4
4
Some of the next exercises are also in
otherwise known as common time. This can
c
also be indicated by a
appearing in the place where the time signature usually goes.
These exercises are designed to work each individual finger.

This now means that the patterns that are within each exercise now have more notes
within each loop. So the looped pattern is larger. This will become more clear when you
practice the exercises.

Keep up the good work!

Its difficult I know but youll be playing
like a professional in no time!!

Page 15

Exercise five

4
2
This next exercise is in 4 . The previous exercises have all been in 4
05
q = 54 - 110

44
1

44

Page 16

Exercise
continued

five

11

13

15

descending
17
5
3

19

Page 17

descending
17
5
3

Exercise five continued

1

19

21

23

25

27

Page 18

29

27

Exercise
continued
five

29

31

More about the exercises

4
4
Because the exercises are now mostly in the patterns are becoming more intricate. So

there is a lot of notes to study and learn in each bar. This will take time but it is extremely
valuable to your playing.

Page 19

Exercise six
This exercise is quite hard so take as long as you need to get comfortable.

06
q = 54 - 110

44
3

44

Page
20

Exercise
six continued

9

11

13

descending

15

17

19

Page
21
5

Exercise six continued

17

19

21

23

25

27

Page 22

25

Exercise six continued

27

29

31

Page 23

Exercise seven

55

07
q = 54 - 110

44
1

44

Page 24

Exercise seven continued

9

11

13

descending

15

17

19

Page 25

descending

Exercise seven continued

15

17

19

21

23

Page 26

Exercise seven continued

25

27

29

Page 27

Exercise eight

3
This exercise uses 4 time signature. This one is my favourite.

08

q = 54 - 110

34

34

10

descending

28
Page

13

Exercise eight continued

10

descending

13

16

19

22

25

Page 29

22

continued
Exerciseeight

25

28

Page 30

Exercise nine

56

This exercise is designed to work on the thumb under the 3 finger technique. This
technique is very important when playing scales. In some pieces it is important to
reposition the hand so it can reach the extra notes. Remember to keep your hand nice
and loose and high. This will help with getting the thumb under. If you keep your wrist nice
and relaxed this will also help when the 3 finger goes over.
09

q = 54 - 110

34
1

34

10

descending
1

31
Page

13

nine
continued

Exercise

10

descending
1

13

16

19

Page 32

Eighth note triplets

The next exercise uses eighth note triplets so before you play that exercise we will briefly
look at what eighth note triplets are.
Eighth note triplets occur when there are three eighth notes played in the time of two
eighth notes, or one quarter note. To do this you spread the playing of the three eighth
notes evenly across the time you would normally play a quarter note.
When eighth note triplets are written, a little number 3 appears above or below the group
of notes.
Triplet sign.
3

3 eighth note triplets equal

Three
one quarter note,
OR two 8th notes

So when counting eighth note triplets you can count:

one-and-then, two-and-then, three-and-then, four-and-then

57
3

=
iiq

OR3 3

iiq
= iq

Clap the beats and count aloud the rhythm.

one-and-then

3 3

two-and-then three-and-then four-and-then

3 3

4 iiq iiq iiq

iiq

one

two

three

four

one-and-then two

33

three-and-then four

q iiq q
q q q q iiq

Page 33

Exercise ten
This next exercise is designed to get the 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers working on both hands.
It has the three fingers playing the same note. This kind of close fingering is useful for
when the hand has to shift positions smoothly. It is also good for increasing the speed
and strength of the three fingers.

10
q = 54 - 110

44

44

3 3

3
3
3 3
3

descending

3
3 3 3 3
3

3 3 3 3

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

10

3 3 3
3

Page 34

3 3 3 3
3

descending
3
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3
3

3
3
3
3
3
Exercise3tencontinued
3 3 3 3 3 3

10

3 3 3
3

3
3
3
3 3 3 3

12

3
3
3
3
3
3
3

Page 35

Exercise eleven
A trill is when two notes next to each other are played in rapid succession. They are
either a tone or a semitone apart. A trill is played very fast so its important to get the
fingers used to this kind of quick playing between one finger and the finger next to it. This
exercise will help your fingers get used to playing the trill.
11

4
4

q = 54 - 110
1

44
5

Page
36

Exercise eleven continued
9

11

13

15

descending
17
4
3

19

Page 37

descending
17
4
3

Exercise eleven continued
19

21

23

25

27

Page 381

Exercise eleven continued

27

29

31

Page 39

4
This exercise is in common time. That means its in 4.
Exercise twelve

Its quite a stretch so take your

time. Also note that the piece goes quite high. Remember that 8va means you play the
notes one octave higher than what is written.

12

Page 40

Exercise thirteen
Note the change in the metronome speed. This is because this exercise should be played
slightly slower. Take your time and be patient. This exercise is important because as
you can see it is a study of playing 3rds. Thirds are used commonly throughout all kinds
of music and this exercise is arranged to practice playing them smoothly so that they are
linked.
13
q = 48 - 90

c
3
1

5
3

4
2

3
1

3
1

4
2

5
3

4
2

3
1

3
1

3
1

3
5

4
2

2
4

1
3

2
4

3
5

3
5

1
3

2
4

3
5

3
5

3
5

3
1

2
4

3
1

3
5

3
5

descending
7

5
3

4
2

3
1

4
2

5
3

5
3

1
3

2
4

3
5

2
4

1
3

1
3

5
3

5
3

1
3

Page 41


1
3

descending
7

5
3

4
2

3
1

4
2

5
3

5
3

5
3

Exercise thirteen continued

1
3

2
4

3
5

2
4

1
3

1
3

1
3

5
3

1
3

11

5
3

3
1

1
3

Page 42

3
5

Exercise fourteen
This is the last exercise for this book. This exercise works the 2nd and 4th fingers on both
hands. Try and hold the octave down and play the notes using the 2nd and 4th fingers.

14
q = 54 - 110

c
5
1

3
2

5
1

4
2

5
1

4
2

5
1

4
2

descending
5
1

4
2

5
1

4
2

Page 43

5
1

4
2

5
1

4
2

Exercise fourteen continued

Youre doing really well!

These exercises are very hard, especially to play fast! But
after you have practised them several times your hands
will get noticeably quicker! Your fingers will be whizzing up
and down the piano!

Page 44

Conclusion
Youve done it! You have completed the Rocket Piano Finger Techniques and Exercises.
Just think how fast your fingers can go now! Youre on your way to becoming a great
musician ... all you need is more practice!
If you havent already, go on to the Rocket Introduction to Gospel Piano book or the
Introduction to Jazz Piano book and keep up the learning!

Ruth

Page 45