How to Practice Technique (Scales, Bach, More!)

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Pianist, author, and NCAA Women's Hockey Player of the Year Jeremy Siskind believes that practicing technique is not about "What" but about "How." He demonstrates how to listen for, how to change exercise to gain control, and what to watch out for in your body, using the D-flat major scale and a Bach Fugue as examples.

[@Martian128]

Wow, Jeremy - thanks for this! I feel like i want to watch this every morning before i sit down at the piano.

[@JeremySiskind]

Oh great! I hope it's really helpful, Martian!

[@88-fingers79]

My elbows (and upper back) thank you for the reminder of tension and the whole body experience!

[@ericsutz8026]

It's always great to listen to your lessons Jeremy.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for checking it out, Eric! Happy practicing!

[@ericsutz8026]

I always found that transposing to 12 keys did the most for my technique.

[@edzielinski]

Fantastic. Your videos and books have been very helpful. The question of what constitutes practice and what is key to practice has been on my mind recently, and these all make perfect sense and are easy to apply (but not so easy to execute properly, lol).

[@JeremySiskind]

Good point! "What constitutes practice" is a great framing!

[@ezraschwartz5201]

Thank you for these grounded and practical guiding principles!

[@JeremySiskind]

My pleasure, Ezra! I hope it helps! I really think *what* you practice matters much less than *how.*

[@stackman1525]

Thanks as always buddy/pal/amigo/friend/etc for the excellent lesson. Always good to rub elbows with the greats 😉

[@JeremySiskind]

Haha, thanks much, Stackman! Happy practicing!

[@francescomanfredi]

Great lesson Jeremy!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank you, Francesco! I hope you and your beautiful family are doing well!

[@rkneale1]

Great video Jeremy! I’m all elbows in.

[@JeremySiskind]

Excellent! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ericgafner7607]

In Japanese, "elbow" can be written as 肘 or ひじ and is pronounced "hiji". Thanks for another great video, Jeremy.

[@JeremySiskind]

Ooh, fun fact! Thanks so much, Eric!

[@janetheffernan5565]

Very helpful. I'm sure the keyboard player from the band Elbow follows this advice, as their technique is excellent. 😊

[@hoodpianogirl]

I LOVE your videos btw

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank you, hood Piano Girl!!!!

[@thubathabethe]

Thank you sir🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@JeremySiskind]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@meserretorcan1228]

Great video…. As usual….

[@JeremySiskind]

I'm honored, Meserret! Be well, my friend!

[@kujatanet2390]

I try to swing my elbows a bit to help keep my hand straight, it takes pressure off weird movements with your hands

[@JeremySiskind]

Good! Moving your elbows helps to ensure that they stay loose.

[@foxjohng51]

Elbow, Jeremy; And thanks.

[@JeremySiskind]

Thanks for watching, John! I hope you're well!

[@foxjohng51]

@@JeremySiskindalways a pleasure, Jeremy. Incidentally, the classical lessons you suggested last year I take have really been helping my technique. So thanks.

[@craigbinns3521]

Speaking of elbows, I have elbow pain. Any thoughts on how to avoid this? I do shoulder and neck and hand stretching before I practice from your book JPF 1 and songs. Timely video. TY! 6:23

[@JeremySiskind]

I wouldn't want to diagnose anything from afar. But as a starting place, I'd check into how you're sitting at the piano and if/where you're holding tension. Truly, you should try to take a couple of lessons with a reliable classical piano teacher in your area.

[@donschneider7953]

This was useful to more than my elbow.

[@JeremySiskind]

Elbows were pretty useful during the pandemic... I still tend to use them to hit the "crosswalk" buttons.

[@meserretorcan1228]

Practicing Clementi Grad Ad Parnassum etudes recently my left hand agility has increased noticeably …😅😅😅

[@meserretorcan1228]

Gradus

[@JeremySiskind]

Beautiful! Great piece and how lovely that your left hand is becoming more limber!

[@ili626]

Mi amigo!

[@JeremySiskind]

Soy yo!

[@brw4807]

My lack of good technique and posture is bad on my body. Wish I had more formal training as a kid. Elbow are ok, for now.

[@JeremySiskind]

Posture is key! Don't cheap out on a bench and pay a lot of attention to how you sit.

[@rachelsmename6]

Should we be using the metronome for much of this? Do you think Thelonius Monk had good technique? He had a unique way of playing.

[@JeremySiskind]

Metronome? Yes! That will help you gauge your progress and find an appropriate challenge. Did Monk have good technique? Tough question! If "technique" is defined as "the ability to express one's self exactly as intended at the piano," the Monk had fabulous technique. If technique is defined as the traditional attitudes of how piano players ought to sit/hold their fingers/etc, then probably not.

[@alonwiesz3180]

I think monk technique was limiting. I dont think he was able to play complex romantic era pieces or bach so well to be honest, and he defenitly had a unique style but i think he was playing that way because, well, he just couldnt do it a different way. For me personally i prefer players who have strong roots in classical music, for both piano and other instruments

[@markyachnin1901]

Elbow!

[@JeremySiskind]

Thank for watching, Mark!

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

MAGNIFICENT ELBOWS, MAESTRO. (I never noticed that about you before🥸). Thank you for this tutorial, Jeremy ⭐🔥🌹🔥⭐

[@JeremySiskind]

Wow, I'm blushing! 😊 Thank you, Brenda!