Hey,

I`m playing classical music and mostly fast paced pieces. I`m currently having fun with Beethovens "rage over a lost penny". I tend to get slightly cramped in my fingers after a while, it takes a lot to be able to simply finish this piece. Are there any good exercises to build finger strength and stamina? I have fairly quick fingers but I get worn out quickly. I think poor fingering might be a part of it but still. Any ideas?

If you have a guitar start playing on it, and you`ll eventually build up your figer muscles. But I think your problem is that you are using improper teqnique.

I think you may be correct, so where should I go from here, just do exercises and scales and work on the fingering?

Teqnique means how you put your fingers while you play, not how you play a piece. First of all always keep your wrists high. Second, when you have to reach for a note, use your wrist. Example: Let`s pretend that youy are in the key of C. Your pinky finger is on G. Say you have to reach to the C above. Normally you would try to strech your pinky to try to reach that note, but instead Rotate your wrist instead of streching your pinky.

Now most important ALWAYS use your fingertips. It may feel and look ackward when you are first trying out, but you`ll eventually get used to it.

P.S- If you have a teacher he/she may not be teaching you proper teqnique. I advise you to get a new teacher. If you don`t have one I sugest that you do!!

everything that Kathrine said is all wrong!!!..Im just joking. She`s 100% correct. Dont get too flat fingered. Also, wrist is a big thing as well. When playing a rapid flight of open notes(Chopin`s etude no.11 op. 25), or tremolos. You said you were playing Beethoven`s Rondo Capriccioso if im correct. Make sure your A theme and B theme(in the beginning of the piece) is played on your finger tips like Katherine said. That section needs to be played light.