Currently, I’m preparing for Grade 7 practical exam for Piano next year. My teacher told me that I’ll still need to brush up on my techniques. The two techniques books that I’m having are Hanon & Czerny. First of all, I’ll like to know besides these two books, what else I need to do to improve my techniques for advanced grade.

Czaire

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hanon, czerny and clementi....

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Actually, Rhapsodin, Liszt probably got where he did because of Czerny. Czerny was Liszt's teacher in Vienna, and no doubt had him playing through loads of these virtuosic exercises. I find the 160 8 bar exs, Op821, particularly useful, both for myself and for my students.Of course, I don't use them all - or play each one 8 times in succession, as recommended by Czerny.
Helen

The best way to improve your technique is to feel the music as you play. Be the music, express the music that comes in through your ears, that goes through your heart and Soul and out through your fingers. Enjoy the music you play, you the Pianist are the magical story teller.

As my music teacher forever tellls me, always remember to bend your fingers. Don't try to hard and don't put youself down. Practise makes perfect.

Best of luck,
Craig

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"Technique" can mean almost anything - what does it mean in your case Czaire?

In my case I have to work on fast even fingerwork always, and pedalling often.

I like to do it using real music rather than studies, as I hate music which doesn't engage the brain as well as the fingers.

QUOTE (sutty_73 @ Oct 13 2004, 10:14 AM)

As my music teacher forever tellls me, always remember to bend your fingers. Don't try to hard and don't put youself down. Practise makes perfect. Best of luck, Craig

Craig,

That is what my teacher has been telling me to do,espcially playing the major in thirds scales.

Czaire

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Oct 13 2004, 12:29 PM)

But if Czaire wants to progress beyond Mozart and get good value for his time so to speak, then czerny and clementi are limited. He'll probably be all right if his musical aspirations are to pass the AB exams and then what? Teach? But I quickly learned that you had to do something more if you want to play Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, etc, in any time at all.

Hi Rhapsodin,

Sorry, I'm a gal.

Yup,I do want to progress beyond Mozart, & play chopin,Debussy etc.... That why, I feel that I need to improve my techniques.

My musical aspiration-not only pass AB exam, but I want to be a performer & planning to do a degree in music and way up.

Rhapsodin, can you pls enlighten me to enhance my techniques.

Thank.

Czaire

QUOTE (Farley_Teacher @ Oct 13 2004, 09:40 PM)

"Technique" can mean almost anything - what does it mean in your case Czaire?

Hi Farley_Teacher,

I will like to have a firmer fingers, especially the last two fingers. Not onlt that, I'll also like to improve the speed of playing and the tonality of the sound.

Czaire

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thanks...that's helpful....

If you want to improve technique...

Scales, Scales and more Scales!!

Have fun!

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Oct 15 2004, 11:41 AM)

Please say if interested, as long as I'm not chucked off for overlong messages! Best wishes, R

Hi Rhapsodin,

It ok.But is it my name really sounds like a guy?

A million thanks for the effort.I'll print it out & keep it.

Czaire


PS: Sorry for the late replied because these few days, the link was down.

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Oct 15 2004, 11:41 AM)

Chopin studies are better if you look on them as studies rather than concert pieces - choose bits that would seem to help you.

Hi Rhapsodin,

Any Chopin's studies? For e.g, Etude, etc......

Czaire

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Berringer's studies are quite good - there are studies to cover all sorts of "situations" - scale passages, short runs, leaping about the keyboard, the works. Also quite mentally challenging, so less boring than scales. But make sure you get the crib sheet that explains how the key progressions work - it's still doing my head in...

The point is, Fen, that much can be done away from the keyboard to improve finger and hand control/strength, like doing things with the left hand that you normally do with the right and using fingers you normally wouldn't - like doing up buttons/unbuttoning using only your thumb, ring and little fingers. Invent similar exercises. They cost hardly extra time and really do improve things! And the results are applicable to far more than just keyboard.

I was always pretty sure you were a girl Czaire!

My teacher says that scales are a very good way to improve technique, and makes me practise them A LOT so I can expect good marks for scales in my next exam!!!

Hi Rhapsodin

I have some difficulty in playing scales in 6th apart. My left hand seems not catching up my right hand, particularly the Eb minor. Although I keep practicing hard, there's still no significant improvement. A friend of mine said that it is because my left hand cannot be played independently. I wonder whether the exercises (or the pieces that you have suggested in this thread) apply to my case as well?

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Oct 19 2004, 12:25 PM)

Hi Czaire, Sorry but my message will be in fragments today. I keep getting kicked off the phone line. No-o-oh, your name doesn't particularly sound like a boy's. It was my presumption for which I apologise...

It ok.... I don't blame you.... I just being curious.

I agreed that "Debussy's music is loaded with chances to deal with technical problems quite aside from expressive ones. "

Currently, I'm learning First Arabesque. It was quite demanding, I just can't get the rhythm for triplets against quaver.

Once again, A big Thank You!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Oct 19 2004, 05:20 PM)

I was always pretty sure you were a girl Czaire! My teacher says that scales are a very good way to improve technique, and makes me practise them A LOT so I can expect good marks for scales in my next exam!!!

Hi Cecilia,

Thank!

I do agree that scales can help to improve techniques & I enjoy playing scales.

Good Luck & hope I believe you'll be able to score well for your scales for the next exam.

Czaire

There is no secret to technique. What you do is you get an exercise book. And whenever you find something hard, you write it down, and do it as a warm-up.

really...i reeli don't know what to do for warm-up...i normally play chopin's prelude and clementi..chopin etude as well