DETERMINANTS OF FINGER CHOICE IN PIANO SIGHT-READING

Sixteen pianists sight-read the unfingered right-hand score of 7 studi es by Czerny. The pianists were of 3 levels of expertise. Each study w as performed twice. Fingerings were transcribed from video recordings. Measures were taken of performance accuracy and fingering consistency . The choices made were compared to the predictions of a model based p rimarily on motor-anatomical considerations. Performance accuracy and fingering consistency were both correlated positively with expertise a nd negatively with the calculated difficulty of fingerings according t o the model. These data are consistent with the notion that expertise in piano fingering depends on the availability of overlearned, rule-go verned response sequences triggered by familiar visual patterns within the notation.