Hanon Piano Exercises - Are they good? How to practise? Other alternatives

[@meropale]

I love Hanon and it has worked to help me improve at getting more comfortable at the piano. I don''t trust a piano teacher who tells me it is just mindless exercises. Anything can be done mindlessly but when you are mindful of the exercises then you can get some real benefit.

[@SybilleGrob]

I actually like the Hanon. I am working through the first part, the ascending and descending finger exercises. I take 1 as “exercise of the week” and use it as worming up. I play it a few times up and down, in different rhythms, staccato, legato etc for 10 minutes or so. It has done wonders for the strength of my finger in general and especially for finger 4 and 5. Agree on not playing them for too long in one time because you can feel the muscles of your weaker fingers getting tired. You want to train them, not force them.

[@PauletteBelshe]

Excellent, excellent tips. I for one, do like HANON. I set the timer for 10 minutes then go on to my pieces, as you suggest. Love your tips. Learn a lot, and I’ve played for 50+ years! 🎉🎹

[@madwoman8297]

Extremely helpful video....thanks so much! I suffered from rigid piano tuition as a child and ended up with stiff, sore wrists and a 'boxed-in' musical ability. Fast forward to 74, with time to practice, but sadly, only an electronic keyboard; I bought a Hanon book to try to improve my technique. I really needed some guidance and you have provided it brilliantly and comprehensively. Now I'm inspired to buy a Burgmuller book to give that a go👍.

[@p_plerny]

Thank you for your advices. This clip answers me many question about Hanon. Your voice and language are very friendly to English foreigner. Thank you from Thailand 🙏🏻

[@akshathakini157]

Thank you so much for all your videos. Absolute beginner here awaiting my first piano! Subscribed!

[@ger.lieder]

Es muy importante lo que dice.

[@JohnMcGFrance]

Very useful video. I’m a beginner and I’m doing Hannon 1 and 6 plus Schmitt 1 and 2 as a warm up. I’m also using Hannon for scale fingerings. I use Dozen a Day and Czerny too. As I don’t have lessons, a video laying out a structure for which exercises are most beneficial from each book and which scales etc to practice would be very helpful. I use Piano Adventures adult book but my issue is I have grade 6 classical guitar and beginner piano books always assume you know nothing about music reading and theory. I need technique more than anything else at the moment (although reading bass clef is harder). Videos on playing scales, arpeggios etc are very helpful. It’s good to see how your hand moves. Really enjoying your channel. Thank you.

[@juliannadoyle8976]

Many thanks for clarifying the questions l have had God bless you Julianna

[@mariazaparenko6999]

Thank you for this information, really helpful!

[@starros1]

Needed better understanding on how to approach Hanon and exercises in general. I found it very helpful. Thank you!

[@neylabak1]

Thank you. I am leraning a lot from your lessons

[@roselynnbrown4343]

This is very helpful…thank you from Canada 🇨🇦

[@MarkJones-mm3br]

The most helpful Hanon video on KZbin I've found so far. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@PhotoBookGuru]

Thanks!

[@maduroholdings]

Although I disagree with about half of what.you said I still feel.this is a.very very important video.about hanon. Thank you for this video I will try your advice about taking some exersixes from.section one and three

[@anthonyclark8564]

I can't be as strenuous as the book suggests, but I've just used the excercises as sight reading practice, practice either staccato or legato with them, play them slow, play them fast..thing is you can adapt them to get what you want out of them and don't have to stick rigidly to the suggestions in the book

[@jwoodrff]

I enjoy improvising after various Hannon patterns

[@PabloVazquez-li8tp]

Thanks! This video was really useful!

[@tiahash2013]

Thank you, love what you do ❤

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Great video, very informative. Good comments about the movement of the whole body and the importance of the shoulder. I started piano several months ago as a 65 year old, and am self taught. I am sure the first thing a teacher would say is that I have bad posture and don't use my shoulders correctly. But they can't do anything about it, since I have a FURS syndrome. I literally have two tendons hanging by a thread. But it's been like that for years, and I had to adapt and change my techniques as a Chiropractor. I quit manipulating vertebrae and developed other techniques. Including many for the shoulder and arm. I will have a video out soon that shows my exercises for the low back but also stretches, exercises and self-treatment for the shoulder, arms and hands. Especially useful for full strength in that pesky fifth finger. Stay tuned.

[@gro6594]

Awesome explanation!

[@bluesky_briancho6677]

Great tips! Thanks★

[@shakibarch]

Many many thanks for discussion

[@laidman2007]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@thuhoang8163]

I started learning piano 6 months ago. The first 2 months I spent 4 hours/day just to practice Hanon. The only way I could do it on daily basis is to turn my favorite shows on, watching the show while I was practicing Hanon exercises. I like Hanon because it’s repeated the same notes within an exercise so I was able to watch TV while practicing. My teacher has assigned me exercises from Czerny op 599 so my time for Hanon is around 20-25 mins/day to warm up my fingers. I enjoyed Hanon (while watching my shows)

[@pianotips2623]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, however, I'm not sure if watching TV while practising is a good idea. It will make your practise very robotic. You need to think of expression and musicality even in the beginning months of your journey. 599 gets very difficult very quickly, has your teacher suggested you any method books?

[@thuhoang8163]

@@pianotips2623 I only watching TV when practicing Hanon. I cannot with 599 because exercises in 599 are harder to me or at least need my attention as notes in 2 hands are different and the melody is not as repeated as Hanon. My teacher has added couple pieces of Richard Clayderman to my journey so I don’t have much time to practice Hanon other than 20-25 mins a day as warm up exercises.

[@travissubuaymanga8456]

I use 1 and 10 to warm up

[@diamonddogez4270]

Hanon helped me get used to the feeling of picking up your fingers without panicking about where your hand should be. If you practice it endlessly it's dumb. You should be using any piano exercise very intentionally. Also I never thought about it making your fingers stronger, it's more about getting your fingers used to moving around the keyboard.

[@scarlettrhettforever]

What do you think of Hanon Preliminary Exercises for piano by John Thompson?

[@Cb489]

Love your videos

[@rayofaz]

Thanks! You have answered the questions I had about Hanon. I am just starting to learn piano, I am 54 and thinking to use one of these technical books. Would you recommend me Czerny instead of Hanon for the technical part of may practice? Or any other specific author?

[@pianotips2623]

If you are a complete beginner, then a 'dozen a day' elementary will be more suited. If you have played before and are closer to Grade 1, then Czerny 599 or Burgmuller 100 has lovely etudes.

[@rayofaz]

@@pianotips2623 Thanks for your answer. I have started form scratch a couple of years ago doing some simple songs for children and elementary exercises. I think I am quite close to grade 1, so I am trying Czerny and will have a look at Burgmüller may be for the next step.

[@anthonyclark8564]

I seem to have missed your question sorry, I have Czerny etudes and do prefer them over Hanon..a mix of both is good I think

[@tropicvibe]

I'm 60 now and getting back to practicing after giving it up years back. Was pretty much at near intermediate level and went through Hanon but got bored and tired. I did gain some strength and accuracy but tension also killed my progress. Right now going through the dozen a day to get me back on track.

[@pianotips2623]

I would always go for Dozen a Day over Hanon. Make sure to split your time between technique and performance to develop musicality.

[@kevincarey2467]

Very informative....thankyou...

[@andreasmaier5361]

I am a 64 year old beginner. Play since about 2 years. I start my daily playing first with some of the simple Hanon excercises. 5 or 10 minutes. My expirience is, that when I start with Hanon my fingers are more flexible than when I start playing other pieces. Well, my expirience.

[@pianotips2623]

Yes, that's the point of these exercises. They can be used as warm ups instead of scales. And 5-10 minutes is plenty of them to get the hands to loosen up a bit.

[@svleonard]

Thank you

[@ironfistentertainmentptylt3846]

Bruv, I've discovered your channel today (new subscriber) and been through some of your videos. I really appreciate your analysis and explanations on the differences between the different book series. I'm spending a lot of time on my Dozen A Day exercises with Hanon as my warm up and I'm taking note of your advice to place more focus on musicality through the practice of pieces. This brings me to my request if you would be so kind: - - - How about uploading one video tutorial per week (or round about) of either the Czerny or Burgmuller pieces so we can track our progress while moving with you for those of us who are 'teaching ourselves?' This would really be appreciated and I'm pretty sure it would increase your subscriber numbers. Hoping to hear from you on this.

[@pianotips2623]

Hi, yes, they are all coming. I actually have quite a few Burgmuller up already and some Czerny too but I will be doing a full 'course'. I started a Kabalevsky course a few weeks ago, you can join that now on KZbin. It is similar to Czerny and Burgmuller, once I finish that, I will move on to Burgmuller and Czerny.

[@ironfistentertainmentptylt3846]

@@pianotips2623 Thank you so much. I didn't go through your actual page yet. I was going through YT's suggestions as they were popping up but I will take a thorough look at your your page from tomorrow so I can get in the swing of things. Looking forward to Journeying with you from South Africa.

[@jawad.assatour]

C’est génial merciii

[@stephenrothman6058]

What do you think of this fingering for chromatic scales ? Right hand ascending starting on C: 123451234545 and repeat; right hand descending same fingering - if starting on C 1545432154321. Left hand ascending starting on C is 543215432121 repeat; descending (starting on C) 5121234512345 repeat. What I like about it is A) there are only 3 hand positions per octave (2 moves) as compared to anything with a traditional thumb tuck involving at least 4 positions, 3 thumb tucks per octave, if you want to use the same fingering on every octave and not a 2 octave pattern before repeating; B) you can use the same fingering on every octave; C) when striking with a given finger on the left hand there is a single unique corresponding finger in the right hand - for example left thumb is always right pinky. The obvious disadvantage is that you can’t do a legato thumb tuck as with classical fingering. You need to jump the hand instead. Unless I do each way for years I can’t tell which approach is better. I’m very comfortable with the 1234545 fingering in right hand ascending, so I think it’s mostly a question of whether I can eventually get the hand jumps to the new thumb positions to be quick and seamless and not lead to uneven accent. If you think this is a bad idea, what fingering do you use for chromatic scales, or does it vary?

[@pianotips2623]

Finger numberings are suggestions only. The general rule is, use whatever works best to create an even flow in scales. Having said that, certain fingerings have been in use for hundreds of years because they generally work better. Regarding the chromatic scale, starting on C 1-2-3-4 is okay, but going 1-2-3-4-5-1 in my opinion is counter-productive. It's very hard and uncomfortable to do a change from 5 to 1, so I would avoid that. It's just my opinion. I have a video on Chromatic fingerings, fairly recent, watch that. The general rule is always use 3 on every black note, 1 on every white note apart from where the two whites are next to each other. So in if you start from C right hand, 1-3-1-3-1-2-1-3-1-3-1-3-1-2 and so on

[@stephenrothman6058]

@@pianotips2623 Thank you

[@elmehdioubouhouch]

The only one change my mind completely i was giving my whole practice to hanon and exercises i without caring about pieces I thought exercises are much good to improve my playing i will take care much more about pieces

[@pianosandpianist8179]

Wonderfully informative video

[@MorganHayes_Composer.Pianist]

very sound appraisal of Hanon. As you say, the key point is don't practice as suggested in the book or great damage could be done!

[@iandodds693]

Can you talk about Aflat please.

[@carla1965]

The best book for beginners is Folk Dean

[@phyllisgordon6577]

I am curious that none of my piano teachers have mentioned scales and arpeggios although I have been learning the piano for over three years. They simply put the grade level book before you and you learn yhe keys. So sad. I wish I had you as a teacher.

[@pianoismyeverything]

My teacher only mention scales

[@pianotips2623]

Scales and arpeggios are essential to every good pianist. You will find scales in exam pieces too. But doing scales before you play pieces will make the pieces much easer and more even.

[@juliannadoyle8976]

I have trouble sight reading the Bass notes. Any idea for me in that area. Thank you Blessings Julianna

[@pianotips2623]

There is no easy way, just try to read a lot of bass clef easy music, the more music you read, the easier it gets.

[@scarlettrhettforever]

Have you look at Max Cooke tone touch and technique?

[@pianotips2623]

Not yet

[@fitzwilliamdarcy3328]

Another tip is to ignore any tempo marks. Learners should play at a tempo that their level of advancement will allow them. A 54 y.o. beginner will not play as fluidly or dexterously as someone who started at 6. That's just how it is. My advice to students is to play slowly and stop if you are uneven or feel tiredness or tension. Shake your hands out and start again slower. I see students try above their abilities, and play unevenly at breakneck speeds. That defeats the purpose of the exercises and is completely pointless.

[@juliannadoyle8976]

What is Folk dean ??

[@pianoismyeverything]

I have been playing piano for 7 years but now I go to hanon because their was a year break, but it seems to hampering my dynamics. My playing has become robotic 😭😭😭 should I stop using hanon? I was enjoying it tho, I am doing burgmuller now (and on the first one I realized things about my playing after 1st exercise) I love doing exercises, but I don't under how to proceed my intermediate pain learning. I have completed grade 5 of trinity. Do u have any suggestions? Hanon did improve my sight reading I can play sheet music at a Glance on slower bpm

[@pianotips2623]

You can still do Hanon but not more than 5-10 minutes a day. It's plenty. Spend more time on Burgmuller, Kabalevsky, Tchaikovsky, Bach, or some Sonatas. They won't make you feel robotic, they are beautiful technical pieces.

[@pianoismyeverything]

@@pianotips2623 aah thank you so much

[@FS02012]

Its supposed to be used as a warm up.

[@pianotips2623]

When it was written, it was meant to be a 'method book'. These days we pick a couple of exercises as warm ups.

[@CaptainCaveman782]

I've done all 100 of Hanon and Czerny 599. They get hard quite quickly especially if you want to build speed. In hindsight it was totally pointless doing all of Hanon as mentioned. Czerny is better in every way in my view. However I wouldn't rush through these . 15mins max is enough and just go at your own speed. You inevitably find some exercises much more difficult than others e.g thirds I really struggled with. Finally I think it's not really something to worry about. Hardly anyone ever has the will power to get through Hanon .

[@TuhinTulsyan]

You hv any Instagram?

[@pianotips2623]

No

[@TuhinTulsyan]

@@pianotips2623 how to get in touch with you?

[@pianotips2623]

piano-tips.com

[@orlandodilasso2319]

Der Referent hat nichts von Hanon verstanden. Jede Übung enthält auch eine musikalische Komponente. Dies braucht aber einen umsichtigen. Erfahrenen Lehrer.