Super Fingers · Book 1

Super Fingers — Essential Piano Technique

5.0 · 5 reviews
Super Fingers Essential Piano Technique — 4 volumes of the ebook series by Lars Nelissen

Sixty exercises that train finger independence and arm technique together — written by Lars Nelissen for pianists who want their technique to catch up with the music they want to play.

Finger IndependenceArm Technique60 Exercises

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What you already know

You practise. The fingers and the arm still aren't doing what they need to do.

The fingers feel locked the moment you try to play fast. You can hear what the passage should sound like, but the hand won’t let you get there.

You have practised scales for years. They still come out mechanical — a bump at the thumb, a stiffness across the keys, a sound that never quite opens.

The forearm tightens whenever the music gets loud. Your teacher said relax, and your hand tightened anyway, because nobody explained what to relax into.

Inside the book

Sixty exercises. One coordinated system.

Sixty graded exercises.

Each one trains a specific coordination between finger and arm — not as two separate systems, but as one. The exercises include all twenty-four major and minor scales, organised so that what you build on page one carries into everything that follows.

A three-phase practice strategy.

Every exercise is worked in three phases: slow and hands-separate, hands-together with arm movement, then continuous play with gradual speed. The same strategy applies across the whole book, so each exercise becomes a small technical study rather than a finger drill.

Written instructions on every page.

Each exercise carries a clear explanation of the technique, with the arm movements drawn into the score for clarity. You can work through the method without the video course — that is how the book is designed.

A real student, on video

Very good exercises! Here is an example...

A student on what the book actually changed.

“For over two years, I’ve been taking piano lessons with Lars. He also introduced me to his own lesson book: Super Fingers. This book challenges me with finger exercises, helps me build speed, improves coordination in my “difficult” fingers, and warms up my hands. A demanding book, with solid exercises and clear explanations. Highly recommended!”
Jasmijn Leijser
Piano Student
“It is quite an interesting and fresh look at the old problem. Whatever you think or believe in, there is no escape from humble practicing. I think this book provides ways of building strength and accuracy that I would call this very foundation indeed. Do I recommend the book? Definitely yes!!”
Michael
Piano Student
Why this method

No other method goes into detail about arm technique as this method does.

Most collections of exercises train the fingers and leave the arm out. Super Fingers trains both, together, from the first exercise — with the arm movement drawn into the score, the practice strategy spelled out on every page, and the coordination treated as the point rather than a footnote.

A student practising at the piano using the Super Fingers method — the Super Fingers book is visible on the music desk
The teacher behind the book

A direct line from Rubinstein. And a long search of his own.

Three names, one chain — and a teacher who spent decades figuring out what to do with what he was given.

Lars Nelissen studied for seven years with Avi Schönfeld — himself a direct student of Arthur Rubinstein. Twenty-five years of teaching since, most of them spent on a single technical problem: how the fingers and the forearm actually coordinate at speed, and why training the fingers alone leaves a ceiling no amount of practice gets you past. Super Fingers is what that work settled into — sixty exercises, trained as one coordinated system.

The book is the result. Sixty fundamental exercises, and a way of practising them that finally treats finger independence and arm technique as one piece of work.
Lars Nelissen in Moscow — piano teacher and author of Super Fingers
Conservatory
Certified
Endorsement from Lars’s teacher

“Lars has been a student in my piano class at the conservatory for several years. I highly appreciate his musicality, artistic qualities and imagination. His creativity gives me the feeling he’ll be an excellent teacher, therefore I recommend him warmly.”

Avi SchönfeldPiano Professor & Composer
The book

Super Fingers — Essential Piano Technique

Super Fingers ebook displayed on a tablet — instant PDF download
Super Fingers Book 1
One-time purchase
What’s included
  • PDF. Instant download after purchase.
  • Sixty graded exercises with written technique notes
  • All twenty-four major and minor scales
  • Three-phase practice strategy applied to every exercise
$28$39.00
Secure payment by Stripe

Video Course (Super Fingers Essential, 91 video lessons) available separately or included with Pro Membership.

What students say
“Due to Lars’ method of arm and finger technique, my piano play has improved a lot. He goes into great depth and that gives me a lot of joy in playing the piano. Amazing teacher!”
Yvette V.
Piano Student
“I’m a pro member of Pianofantasy for 1 year now. I already learned a lot from Lars’ Super Fingers course, the live lessons and feedback that I and other students get. It’s very inspiring and motivating and it makes me want to improve my piano skills continuously.”
Martin Reuvers
Piano Student
“Becoming a member of Lars Piano Fantasy Academy has proven beneficial for me as an aspiring pianist. Learning with Lars’ finger strength exercises has been very beneficial. I’ve noted in the pieces I play, that my 4th & 5th finger on notes have shown great improvement! Thank you!”
Patricia Cole
Piano Student

  • Teddy Alemeneh

    Pro Member

    Thanks to Lars I corrected many bad habits. I was able to play quickly and accurately.

    I totally recommend his course for those who don't want to stuck like me and want to advance from the beginning the right way. For the past 2 years I have learned to play through YouTube. At some point my progress stopped. I realized that if I need to advance further I will need a step by step course from the beginning. I came across Lars on YouTube and was very impressed by his simple explanations and clear English. Thanks to him I corrected many bad habits. I was able to play quickly and accurately. Everything suddenly seems simpler. I also learned that not everything can be learned from YouTube 😀.

  • Carin Roest

    Pro Member

    The membership offers a very nice way of systematicaly learning

    It’s a very nice way of systematicaly learning to get more grip on improving my pianoskills. Good instructions, nice progressive excercises.

  • Edward Lopata

    Pro Member

    After a short time working a marked improvement in surety of finger control.

    Even after a short time working on Modules 1 & 2, found a marked improvement in surety of finger control. Combining Lars demonstrations and the PDF's are working well for me.

  • Mansour Alyahyay

    Pro Member

    Lars is an excellent instructor for all levels

    This is an excellent course for those interested in playing piano. Lars is an excellent instructor for all levels, willing to provide more time and answer any question, whether in text or video.

  • Patricia L Cole

    Pro Member

    I've found in Lars, what lacks in other teachers during my quest through the years!

    I would Highly recommend Lars as an instructor to any aspiring pianist. Clear, concise and willing to share his knowledge generously, as was given to him from the renown pianist, Avi Schönfeld. I've found in Lars, what lacks in other teachers during my quest through the years! Many thanks for sharing your extensive knowledge, Trisha

  • Giovanni van Grootveld

    Pro Member

    Piano Fantasy community is also very nice and helpful

    Piano Fantasy gave me a deeper understanding on piano technique. It boosted my playing a lot. The community is also very nice and helpful. I would definitly recommend it to anyone who wants to be a great pianist

  • Edward Lopata

    Pro Member

    Always a timely response from Lars to questions

    I feel that the Piano fantasy program has helped in all aspects of my playing: Technique, control, concentration, interpretation, focus, and inspiration. Being able to access the online information at any time means that taking a lesson can be at any time. Lars is always clear and responds in a timely manner to specific questions.

  • Martin Reuvers

    Pro Member

    I'm very pleased with the Superfingers Course. It is exactly what I was looking for. The exercises help me a lot!

  • Patricia Cole

    Pro Member

    He honestly wants his students to succeed.…

    Becoming a member of Lars Piano Fantasy Academy has proven beneficial for me as an aspiring pianist. Learning with Lars' finger strength exercises has been very beneficial. I've noted in the pieces I play, that my 4th & 5th finger on notes have shown great improvement! Thank you!

  • Mario Marzan

    Pro Member

    I definitely recommend these lessons to all aspiring pianists.

    I love the Super Fingers Essential Course. The exercises help me to play correctly with the arm movements. The video lessons in each module help a lot. Lars explains the lessons thoroughly. Excellently presented! Thank you, Lars, for this course. I definitely recommend these lessons to all aspiring pianists.

  • Edward Decherf

    Pro Member

    I am very impressed about all the different kind of courses

    I am a brand-new pro-member of the Piano Fantasy and I am very impressed about all the different kind of courses which you could chose for studying the piano. There also are many theoretical exercises and some harmony into the courses included, wich also are important for your own technique skills and progress. I had found the Piano Fantasy-courses by accident, because I wanted to learn and study much better and make my own musical-lever much higher than ever before. I have discovered and learned quite a bit during the last six weeks, and I want to keep practicing and training music until the end of time, until I have reached the real professional performances as a full-professional Concert-Pianist!

  • Mark Carey

    Super Fingers Book reader

    I think the Super Fingers technical work will be the catalyst that will get me to the next level - even at my age of 67!

    I decided to begin studying piano seriously again after 50 years of not playing much. I discovered Lars while searching for materials to practice. I purchased Super Fingers book 1 and have been working on the first 10 exercises for about 2 weeks now. To do the exercises correctly is harder than it looks - especially trying to break over 50 years of bad habits. I found initially that my fingers do not have much independence from each other. By slowing the tempo and approaching the exercises methodically, I can tell you that only after 2 weeks of disciplined practice I am seeing results. It takes me about 20-30 minutes to get through the first 10 exercises. I do those first thing, then move on to scales, arpeggios, Hanon, and Czerny etudes for another 40 minutes. There is so much to cover! After an hour of this technical work I do another hour of repertoire and finish my morning session with a few minutes of playing something fun. In the evening I do another 2 hours of jazz techniques and songs. I am finding the Super Fingers technical work definitely carries over to the Classical AND jazz playing. I am a lower intermediate level pianist but I think the Super Fingers technical work will be the catalyst that will get me to the next level - even at my age of 67!

  • Patricia L Cole

    Pro Member

    He does not hold back vital information. He honestly wants his students to succeed!

    Since my piano journey began, I've had several disappointing piano teachers and finally I have discovered Lars, Piano Fantasy! His patient explanation is very clear, concise. I have greatly benefited from his instructions. And renewed interest in playing scales which he adds zest with his approach! Clearly Avi Schönfeld taught Lars on the finest points every sincere pianist needs to know, and Lars shares. He does not hold back vital information. He honestly wants his students to succeed. His integrity and sincerity are evident and I am very thankful to be a student of Lars Piano Fantasy Trisha

  • Martin Reuvers

    Pro Member

    I already learned a lot as a Pro Member!

    I'm a pro member of Pianofantasy for 1 year now. I already learned a lot from Lars' Super Fingers course, the live lessons and feedback that I and other students get. It's very inspiring and motivating and it makes me want to improve my piano skills continuously. I'm very happy that I came across Lars' website and YouTube channel. It's exactly what I needed to pick up pianoplaying again after many years and it provides me a lot of joy.

  • Paul Voegeli

    Pro Member

    Like life, music is also a journey and a quest for knowledge and enlightenment. In searching for a teacher and mentor for piano instruction, I recently became aware of the program and method presented by Lars Nelissen. And while in the early stages of enrollment in this program, I can attest to the improvement and confidence that can be achieved by studying and practicing under his direction. Remote learning resources and the opportunity to review lessons and course materials as I now have time to do, is important to me. Professor Nelissen has promptly and generously taken time to answer my questions via e-mail, which I greatly appreciate in the early stages of my studies with him. In retirement and later life I am at long-last finding time to study and practice piano which has been a life-long aspiration. Limited (but great) instruction many years ago coupled with renewed determination to learn to play the piano - along with whom (Lars) I perceive to be a genuinely capable teacher and an experienced, talented pianist- are motivation to study and learn and progress. If you are sincerely interested in learning the pianoforte, take time to look at the course materials and resources available with Professor Lars Nelissen. Respectfully submitted by Paul V. in Idaho/USA.

  • Michael

    Super Fingers Book reader

    It is quite an interesting and fresh look at the old problem

    It is quite an interesting and fresh look at the old problem. Whatever you think or believe in, there is no escape from humble practicing. I think this book provides ways of building strength and accuracy that I would call this very foundation indeed. I'm rather a beginner. I will gradually familiarise myself with all the exercises the book has to offer. One by one. I believe it is truly worth it. Do I recommend the book? Definitely yes!!

  • Patricia L Cole

    Pro Member

    This course has given me renewed interest in approaching my piano and long loved pieces I now play with new enthusiasm! I am eager to find my super fingers and fortunate to have an instructor of such an illustrious background! Thankful for a true instructor!

Questions students ask

A few questions before you decide.

The Book

Super Fingers Essential Piano Technique

The book is a PDF, delivered instantly after purchase, and yours to work with at your own pace.

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Super Fingers ebook cover, lying flat