Carla

As one who took up the cello as an adult, I can confirm how difficult it can be to manage a short little finger (5.3 cm in my case), particularly when the other fingers are proportionally longer so that the little finger is always straining to keep level with them. The location on the neck of 4th position is also critical as being set back even a little makes accurate intonation of the 4th finger both inconsistent and a strain. It has surprised me how dismissive some teachers can be of the issue, sometimes assuming that one is using a convenient excuse for having difficulty . I was fortunate to find one who recognised the problem and worked with me to find various ways to tackle the obstacle and I consequently managed to achieve a merit in Grade 8.

Commented on: 17 February 2019

Ask the Experts: how to help a student with a short fourth finger