I have the Czerny & Hanon for intermediate grades, but does anyone use any other technique books? If so, did they see results? Also, does anyone think that starting the piano at an earlier age helps in learning facility of the keyboard? I've only been practicing for almost a year (a year in March) and I'm already playing class "A" music, does this mean I'm not far behind everyone who started at an earlier age? Sorry for so many questions, but I seem to need them answered right now.
Hi, i study at music academy and gonna graduate soon.Since i have played piano form the age of 6 i don't know how it's feel like to be a amateur pianist.I am glad for you guys , coz you chose to play piano.I can tell you that i heard many times amateur pianist preform piece better that professional.Not in a technical level, but in a emotional way.Today, people are so occupied with technique and speed that they forget the most important things:
sound, music, phrases, legato, emotions, they also forget or they think they are doing it but you can't hear it.That is tragedy!!
As for bare technique, you get it with time, practicing and a very good teacher.Teachers role is to guide you and to show you the best way, to prepare you so you can play whatever you want.Many teacher do not know how to do that actually!They just can't explain you what are they doing and why their playing sound so great.I 've seen it many times.
Another important thing is that many technical problems can be easily solved if you just follow the music.Music will teach you.
Play the hard part of your piece with a huge emotional expression, and you will that your hands will find a way to do it.
There are so many methods , approaches , books that offer easy solutions, but piano technique just has to be explained it the right way.
That's what i found in the the craft of piano playing dvd.
Here is the link to the demo on youtube, take a look, i m sure you will like it!
WOW!!! I never really thought of technique being any other way than hard drills and boring books, but this offers a much more useful and insightful way to better your ability on the piano! I'm difinitely going to have to find this somewhere! I'm sure though, that with every method that there is, some people are opposed to it in some way, but I just hope that my piano teacher accepts his views! Thank you for all of the brilliant advice!
Technique Books are awesome... i have played the piano and flute and they help me understand the music so much more than if i didnt... i would recommend using them for a long time... ^,_,^
I have only used Czerny as technique book. And it takes me about a month or so to complete only one page of czerny 101 (or sometimes known as Czerny 125...not to be confused with Czerny 100) because I make sure musicality is used as well as dynamics, speed, hand position, flow, legato, rhythm, energy, and agility. I have seen the greatest improvements through Czerny 101. before czerny, my fingers flopped all over the place, I played Sonatinas as if it were just notes and rhythms...Now everything is more flowing and my technique (not to brag) is far better than many others.
Yes, Age, I think may have to do with your ability on the piano...but not necessarily. There are great pianists (I do not remember the name...He was Korean...LIKE ME ^_^ -random-) in the world that had started around 10 or 9 and had played only for a year...Yet they won world Chopin competitions. age may correlate with it because you could develop your ear very well like the Suzuki method -kids listen to the music played on a recording and because they are still young, they still have the ability to actually develop good musical ears. However, I think it is more of diligence, patience, INTELLIGENT work, and enjoyment that has to do with your progress. For example, you may just play piano because your parents want to, and you may be good at it, but eventually, you might get tired of it and stop practicing -slowly, your progress comes to a halt.
I'm sorry if i hadn't answered all your questions. I only answered the first 2.
<Added>
Okay. To prevent confusion, I will revise my first sentence...
It is:
The only technique book I have used was Czerny.
that totally changes the meaning. Sorry...my initial sentence was poorly structured.
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