Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist

About Hanon's "The Virtuoso Pianist":

Hanon's Le Pianiste Virtuose or the Virtuoso Pianist, which is in three parts, has become a staple for every serious pianist.

The three parts consists of finger exercises getting gradually more and more difficult, from a beginners level to advanced level.

Beware the tension!

If at any time your wrists or arms feel fatigued: TAKE A BREAK! Or play something else. Do not try, as suggested, to play through the whole book every day, as you can get some serious injury, unless you are already an advanced highly accomplished virtuoso player.

Apart from adapting to some good common sense in practicing these Hanon exercises, they are really good. They help improve finger dexterity and technical skill as well as familiarity with common patterns of movement and note reading of patterns. read more about how to practice without pain: How To Play Piano Pain Free

Hanon, Part 1:

For each exercise, start by learning the pattern

• in the first measure (ascending),
• the last measure before it turns and the first going down (descending),
• as well as the very last measure.

In between these places the pattern is simply repeating one note higher, versus one note lower each time!

Learn these measures well, playing very slowly first hands separately, then both. Then learn it by heart so you can focus on the keyboard and your hand position instead of the notes.

How to Practice Hanon Exercises:

1. Play the whole exercise through as quarter notes.

2. Play the whole exercise through as eight notes.

3. Play the whole exercise through as sixteenth notes.

4. Play one note long and the next short for a simple rhythm.

5. Reverse and play short- long.

6. Play in the group of 4: Long-short-short-short

7. Play in the group of 4: Short-short-short-long

8. Play in the group of 4: Short-long-short-short

9. Play in the group of 4: Short-short-long-short

10. Play your right hand louder than the left.

11. Play your left hand louder than the right.

12. Take turns playing loud and soft between the hands, and do frequent changes- Fun!

Take your time learning the first 10 Hanon exercises one by one. Keep repeating the ones you have learned until you have mastered all 10. You can now play through all 10 each day as a warm up.

Then start new with the next set of 10, and leave the old.

Hanon, Part 2:

Use the strategies for practicing as above; maybe skip steps 1, 4 and 5 if you wish. This part of "Hanon the virtuoso pianist" also contains all the major and minor scales, chromatic scales, arpeggios and chord practice.

Part 2: (Click here to get a free pdf-file)

Hanon, Part 3:

For smaller hands, take it in small doses with the stretching exercises, and again listen to your body!

Combine a couple of these exercises each day with a few of the exercises that you have learned from part 1 and 2. In this way you will have both finger, stretching and strengthening exercises.

Part 3: (Click here to get a free pdf-file)

You could also select a “repertoire” of different exercises that you like and that feels good to play for a 10-20 min. exercise program that you learn by heart and use as a daily warm up.

Here are some ideas on how to practice with great results: Piano Exercises for Beginners

Now go and practice! ; )

There is help for stiff and clumsy piano fingers! Go here for more information! Bootcamp for Clumsy Piano Fingers.

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