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 Location:  Home » Musical Instruments » Piano » Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano TechniqueOctober 10, 2008  


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Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano Technique
Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises - Complete: Piano Technique
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Creator: C.l. Hanon
Publisher: G. Schirmer, Inc.
Category: Book

List Price: $6.95
Buy New: $4.07
You Save: $2.88 (41%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $3.99

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(51 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2294

Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 116
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 11.9 x 9 x 0.4

ISBN: 0793525446
Dewey Decimal Number: 786
UPC: 073999569704
EAN: 9780793525447
ASIN: 0793525446

Publication Date: November 1, 1986
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
This collection of exercises has been a "Must Have" for many years. Designed to build independence and dexterity.


Customer Reviews:   Read 46 more reviews...

1 out of 5 stars A mustn't have!   September 27, 2008
  2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Going against the grain here I would say DO NOT buy this book! I am a piano teacher and yes, I had to use this book in my younger days. Recent research, however, has shown that using this can potentially give you wrist problems such as RSI. Finger strength is not really a priority when learning the piano. Good technique and understanding of the music is.

Ask yourself: How many times do I repeat patterns such as those in Hanon over and over again when I am playing a piece of music? The answer is never! So why train your fingers to do that? The only thing playing Hanon makes you better at is playing Hanon!

If you want to improve the technique and musicality of your playing find a Mozart (or Haydn, Corelli, Kabalevsky or any other composer) piano piece that you enjoy and that is within your ability or will stretch you just a little and learn it. Practise it slowly and play each phrase with the correct notes and fingering every time. This gives you a piece of music you can perform as well.

In short, if you were an athlete would you train using physical techniques from the early 1900s? Our knowledge of physiology has moved on and even some elements of the piano action have been improved to make actions lighter and more responsive.

If you are looking to improve your piano technique I suggest you read:
Lhevinne: Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing
Gieseking & Leimer: Piano Technique (Paperback)
Sandor: On piano playing

They aren't necessarily the easiest books to read, but playing the piano isn't easy! I use other books as well (e.g. 20 Lessons in keyboard choreography), Czerny for certain things, but never Hanon!



5 out of 5 stars Excellent   September 19, 2008
This has got to be the best $7 you could invest in developing piano playing talents. The exercises are not easy and playing them seems a lot like work. However, if you are serious about wanting to improve your playing skills, the exercises in this book will do that for you about as fast as possible.


5 out of 5 stars Just do it!!!   September 11, 2008
Use your fingers now to buy this book and they will thank you later!

What it is: A collection of excercises mostly in the key of C with repeating patterns sequenced up one note. The excercises are simple to learn (unlike Czerny) and are effective at what they do-strengthen, increase dexterity and speed, and coordinate hands.

Who are they for: My kids and I both use them.

How I have used them: 1.First learned the pattern. 2. Speed up to 80. 3. Then play each note distinctly. 4. Focus on the left and right finger hitting the note at exactly the same time. 5. Added a metronome, to work on timing and speed. 6. Then added the most important thing-pulse, by accentuating either the first of four notes(2 beats per measure) or using a ragtime rhythm(3-3-2). In short, they seem to develop with you. I have also started using them to teach the names of the notes to my kids (have them say the first note of a group).

By the way I don't find them boring (after a year and a half, almost daily), but relaxing after a stressful day.



5 out of 5 stars Must-Have for Technique   September 6, 2008
Eventually all my students will have to have this book. It is a staple for piano technique! It's cheap in price, too.


5 out of 5 stars Must have...   July 25, 2008
Written before 1900 - still being printed. You need this book if you're at all interested in playing piano. While playing the exercises isn't going to endear you to your neighbours, family or friends, I felt it has already started to improve the strength and control of my 4/5 fingers. The exercises are easy to remember so you don't need to drag the book around with you when you travel. My only slight complaint is that it doesn't look as if it has been re-typeset since 1900...


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