Samples

The Virtouso Pianist in Sixty Exercises for Better Piano Technique If you want to be a tennis pro or a football star, you can’t expect to improve your performance if you don’t spend time in the gym lifting weights and running. In order to play well you have to have a base to build from. A lot of time and sweat are hiding behind the buff, sculpted athlete who steps on to the field on game day. The same applies to piano. A performer does not sit down on stage and perform a magnificent peace without completing hours of practice and training beforehand. Technique, finger power, and form all have to be broken down and refined to come together to create a good pianist. It’s not the most glamorous or exciting part of playing piano, but it’s a necessary one to become the best pianist you can possibly be. Hanon’s collection of 60 exercises will help you improve your speed, note definition, and overall technique. Simply spend a few minutes of your practice time and reap the benefits. There are different ways you can practice hanon’s exercises. Take these Hanon variations and apply them the next time you play: ● Just as written This is a given. Simply play what is on the page. ● Dotted sixteenths Long-short, long-short/short-long, short-long. Practicing with a different rhyme (while still keeping a steady beat) helps with “uneven” rhythms you will come across in other songs. ● Staccato Play every note staccato, being sure to keep your wrists loose. This helps you learn to keep yourself relaxed and yet still play strongly. ● Vary speed Play fast going up and retard coming down. Or vice versa. ● Vary dynamics Crescendo up and diminuendo down. ● Finger preps Practicing finger preps is like doing finger pushups. It promotes finger strength for better overall technique. Finger preps are preformed by lifting a finger at a slight angle and slapping the pad of the finger down on the key. You may feel a little silly at first, but it’s guaranteed to improve your playing. ● Even Turn your metronome on and practice keeping a very strict beat. Whichever way you choose to practice Hanon’s exercises, be sure to make each note clean and separate—don’t slur the notes together. You need to distinctly hear each note, whether you are playing quickly or slowly, loudly or softly. By practicing this way, you are creating an invaluable habit to carry over into your actual piano pieces. It creates strength in your figures and an articulation that allows people to enjoy every note you play. Keep your body relaxed and comfortable while you practice these exercises. The tendency is to tense up, especially in your shoulders and wrists. If you notice your muscles starting to tighten, immediately stop, take a deep breath, shake your muscles out, and begin again. Being aware of how your body reacts during these warm-up exercises will help you learn to relax in any piano setting you find yourself in. Lean your wrists into the angle the notes are moving. If the scale is going up the keyboard, move your wrist in that direction instead of staying stiffly in line with your hand. This helps you to anticipate each note and you don’t have to drag your body along with your fingers as you move up (or down). Watch your fingering while practicing these exercises. It will already be written in for you and is there for a purpose. The fingering is the most efficient and proper way to play. Don’t ignore it.