What are your favourite technical exercise books for piano, from about Grade 3 upwards?

Also, have you made any of your own up? (Like playing scales in a variety of rhythms and so on)

I feel like i need to build a better 'library' of resources to turn to when I want to address a technical issue, so any ideas would be much appreciated.

I mainly use the Joan Last 'Freedom Technique' books combined with 'Dozen a Day'. Of course, we're always making up exercises, and I do draw on other books sometimes, but these are the main ones.

Am I awful in hardly using technical exercises?

I wasn't brought up on them so my experience in this area is pretty limited.

I'm finding that the crazy arpeggios, octave runs and scales in some of my pieces are enough of an exercise in themselves.. (Schubert D959 Andantino Pages 2 and 3 are taking forever to get anywhere near listenable or up to speed!) But you're not alone, I really should do exercises but struggle to find time or motivation!

Of course not - I don't use them very much, and tend to just teach the technique as it comes along.

Czerny's 101 Exercises Op. 261 - they might be a little too advanced for the Grade 3s and new Grade 4s which in this case, A Dozen A Day will come in handy.

Thanks for your comments. I am quite a fan of doing technical exercises, so I'm interested in the fact some of you don't use them.

Seer_Green, when you say you teach the technique when it comes along, how do you do it? Do you then refer to a technique book for extra practise, or just practise it 'in situ' in the piece?

I agree the Czerny is a bit too difficult for Grade 3/4 learners. I feel there's a bit of a gap at this stage - Dozen a Day, yes, but what else?

A combination depending on the scenario.

I always use Michael Aaron Technic books. Best I've ever found and not as boring as Czerny.

Thanks

Some of Czerny's etudes are beautiful.

Try Op 740 Nos 6, 9 and 18 for starters

True, some of them are, but not many. Then again they are technical exercises so are not really supposed to be beautiful. I do have a few favourites of Czerny, from the School of Velocity book, and one which I am learning at the moment (op.299 no.39 - I think this one is great and there's a video on Youtube of Leslie Howard playing it with real "velocity"!) but will certainly have a look at those you suggested.

As a source of pieces that will be enjoyed by an audience Op. 740 is streets ahead of Op. 299

Do you mean actual exercises or studies ?

I guess I'm making a distinction between exercises that are quite short and based on pure repetition and studies that are one-page or two-page pieces of music that are designed to work on certain technical aspects.

I used to think that both were old-fashioned and technique would come from playing whatever, but I do find that the pupils who are open to playing exercises and studies do certainly develop better finger dexterity.

Like you, though, I haven't found good exercises books. Studies are easier - I like Czerny - but Dorothy Bradley's Tuneful Graded Studies is also a nice range and goes up to Grade 3/4. Obviously Burgmuller is just wonderful but that's hardly studies any longer, just pieces.

All the American range of books (Bastien. Alfred etc.) have technique books as part of their range and go up to grade 3 or 4 level and the normal objection to these books (a bit formulaic) is obviously far less of a problem for exercises !