[The-Real-Link]

I've been thinking about buying a piano technique book. I know a lot of teachers swear by them, but my teacher thinks that you can go with or without them. I was thinking about getting one, just to improve certain techniques. However, I'm not sure whether to get Hanon or Liszt. Those are the two that I had kind of brought it down to. Although I know there are a ton of different techniques out there. What do you guys think?

[Indra777]

One word: hanon

[AS90]

I'm not so sure about Hanon. They are great exercises for some things but playing them really killed my joy to play. For me the best practise is something that I don't need to force me to do it. I personally like more Czerny's exercises, they have melodies unlike Hanon's.

[Nicol Armarfi]

Like you, TRL, my teacher also believed that the repertoire taught enough technique in itself. Recently I picked up Czerny's exercises, and they do indeed work quite well. I personally am a fan of just using the Romantic etudes (Chopin, Liszt etc.) but that may be attributed to my lack of patience with the more blunt daily exercises of the technique books. After buying the book I've condescended not to use it as often as I had intended as I still prefer the etudes, but in your case I see that you're much more driven to practise than I am. This in mind, I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend either Liszt or Czerny. I have never seen a bar of Hanon's exercises so I can't give you any review on that, but certainly the former two are worth your while.

[The-Real-Link]

I have heard many good things about Czerny. I looked through Liszt's Technique book at a music store and was intrigued by some of what I saw. I was thinking of going through a few technique lessons on my own, just to sharpen my skills a little bit more.

I am still having problems with hand pain, and I'm hoping I can build a little bit more hand strength. A college piano professor gave me some tips on improving my playing and preventing back and neck pain. She said that I played octaves with a collapsed first knuckle which caused fatigue in my tendons. She said that I need to learn to control my thumb as an independant digit from the rest of my hand. She said this would give me much cleaner control over octaves, ninths, and tenths.

She also said that I played with my shoulders hunched up, thus putting the weight of playing on my upper arm. This causes fatigue in the back and neck. She by relaxing my shoulders back, and straightening my back I can play for longer periods of time without getting so tired.

I'm trying to best to lose my old habits of playing and apply her advice. Hopefully it will help hone my skills a little more before going to college. I'm entering my senior year of high school, so I only have about 8-10 months to prepare before college. I'm going in as a double major (Music Composition/Piano Performance) so I'll have my work cut out for me!