The Pianist and the Pinky

Congratulations to Pianist Magazine (published by Warner Group Publications) which has just won the Digital Publication of the Year 2016.

Although I don’t actually subscribe to this magazine, I do sometimes try to pick up a few tips from the website. I particularly enjoy the piano lesson videos for Intermediate and Advanced Level Pianists. If you click on the playlist icon on the top left of the screen, you’ll see a variety of topics listed including ‘The Basics of Pedalling” “Scales and Arpeggios” and “Playing Staccato and Legato” – all very helpful.

The pianist giving the advice in these videos is Graham Fitch. I was particularly interested to hear him refer to his little finger as a “pinky” (sometimes spelt ‘pinkie’). This is a word I had never heard until becoming a piano teacher and found most of my young pupils would use it. For years I assumed it was used exclusively by children but clearly not.

Having looked up the origin of the word online, I see it is a Dutch word which somehow made its way into Scottish English. However, like so many modern words, I believe it has crept into modern English usage via America.