The Piano 2026 - Channel 4 UK

Nightowl

I'm currently watching the first episode of the new series. A young woman named Grace has just played a piece by Einaudi. She played it well. She has no fingers!

I'm lost for words. It's truly humbling watching what she has achieved since meningitis took her legs and fingers. I looked for a clip but could not find one. She's an inspiration to anyone struggling to learn piano.

Sophia

Wow... I wonder how she pulled that off! I have heard of people playing with their feet (they had no arms) but playing with no fingers? How did she do it???

Nightowl

Sophia She used her knuckles and finger/thumb stumps, then rotated her wrists to reach the notes. She said she had to identify which parts of her hands to use for particular notes - I guess that she worked out the knuckle positions in the way that other pianists work out the fingering when they learn a piece. It wasn't clear whether she already had some piano knowledge as a child, before she had meningitis. Her parents said that Grace never uses the phrase "I can't" - it's just not in her vocabulary. 🙂

ShiroKuro

Nightowl She said she had to identify which parts of her hands to use for particular notes - I guess that she worked out the knuckle positions in the way that other pianists work out the fingering when they learn a piece.

that makes a lot of sense!

I'm curious what piece by Einaudi she played. (I have a one-track mind! 😃

Sophia

ShiroKuro I have a one-track mind

Eh, it's called dedication! 🤣 I searched YT as well, but didn't find anything. There was a video of a Chinese girl with no fingers on one hand, but she definitely didn't play Einaudi. It's amazing what people can do when they are determined enough!

ShiroKuro

Sophia Eh, it's called dedication!

I’ll take it!! 😂

rsl12

I was curious and looked her up:

Pretty amazing!

Nightowl

Yes, indeed. It's also amazing that you tracked down that clip - impressive detective work! 🙂

Nightowl

ShiroKuro It was "Experience".

Looking at the clip that rsl posted, I don't think that is footage of the performance in the train station. It seems that Grace was given music therapy, so perhaps that piano was in the hospital or in her home.