In our fourth teacher chat, Beth Horton and I discuss hand hygiene and fingernails.

Listen to additional teacher chats here.

Listen to the full episode here Beth Horton

Beth is a teacher in Lubbock, Texas who teaches in a multi-teacher studio, travels to students' homes, and offers online piano lessons. Beth will be featured in the next teacher interview coming out May 6, Episode 141.

What do you expect as far as hand hygiene from your students?

Beth - In a word, CLEAN. As for length, hold your hand up and look at your palm, if you see you fingernail over the back of your fingertip, your nails are too long.

Shelly - "Biting your nails is gross," ~ Allison Thompson, the most popular girl in my fifth grade class.

What problems can result from fingernails that are too long?

Beth - Fingernails make a clacking sound on the piano keys. To avoid that sound, many students play with flat fingers. To play with flat fingers, their third knuckle will collapse, their wrist is arched, and there is so much tension in their playing. Students can't play as beautifully with this tension in their hands. Over time, that kind of stress and tension can cause more serious injury.

Shelly - As a person who rarely paints her nails, I did paint them as an experiment for this chat. The awareness that I have polish on my nails has caused me to be more careful with how I use my hands. I don't want to scratch or chip my nails. While playing the piano, I am less focused on my music and more conscientious about my nails. When I removed the polish, I noticed that my fingernails were much dirtier underneath than they are when I don't have polish to cover the dirt up.

It's prom season. What alternatives are there to long acrylic nails?

Beth - If you choose to go the acrylic route, be sure to go back to the salon to have them professionally removed. Do not pick at your nails or pull them off yourself.

Two alternatives to consider:

Gel Manicure

Dip Powder Manicure

Shelly - Celebrate that special occasion! Enjoy prom or your cousin's wedding but also consider your piano responsibilities. Prom season is also recital season. You don't want to spend a load of money getting your nails done only to have them cause problems with your piano playing.

One thing for parents to take away from this chat -

Beth - Have a strategy before you go to the salon or after soccer practice.

Shelly - You are sharing the piano keyboard with every other student who has seen your teacher this week. Keep your hands clean and ask your piano teacher to keep the piano keys clean.

Consider piano playing when you are getting ready for those special occasions.

Connect with Beth

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