Brahms 51 Exercises

[michael_langlois]

My teacher just assigned these to me.  Has anyone heard of them?  Have you found them helpful?   Any other thoughts...

[anda]

they're very difficult - maybe the most difficult technical exercises. i haven't really tried them (i thought about it, they seem pretty usefull), cause apparently i have no patience at all for any kind of exercises 

one thing i can tell you about it: read each exercise carefully, and try to figure out what kind of movement it is designed to work on - each of these treates a specific kind of finger/wrist/arm movement (actually, more like a specific combination of these three), and when you actually start working on a certain exercise, pay very much attention to using exactly that kind of movement. and, generally speaking, be extra-careful with your hands/arms - unless you practice properly, these exercises can be quite dangerous.

best luck

[elias89]

I play them (not yet all 51 of course!!! )

They're really hard stuff but extremely helpful

[dnephi]

I play them (not yet all 51 of course!!! )

They're really hard stuff but extremely helpful

What level technically should one be before attempting?

[elias89]

very high, because they should not be a torture.
but you don't have to be a perfect pianist (not yet )

I use them usually as a warm-up before practicing.
As a level: You should be able to play the technical difficult Beethoven Sonatas (such as 2/3; Waldstein etc.)

[michael_langlois]

very high, because they should not be a torture.
but you don't have to be a perfect pianist (not yet )

I use them usually as a warm-up before practicing.
As a level: You should be able to play the technical difficult Beethoven Sonatas (such as 2/3; Waldstein etc.)

Do you find yourself well-equipped for the Brahms-Paganini variations upon completion of the 51?

[Waldszenen]

The Paganini Variations are far harder than the exercises. You can't really compare the two, but I can say that the Paganini Variations are probably the hardest thing Brahms wrote, and one of the most advanced pieces in the piano repertoire.


The exercises themselves are very challenging but are helpful, once you've worked at them for a bit.

[michael_langlois]

The Paganini Variations are far harder than the exercises. You can't really compare the two, but I can say that the Paganini Variations are probably the hardest thing Brahms wrote, and one of the most advanced pieces in the piano repertoire.


The exercises themselves are very challenging but are helpful, once you've worked at them for a bit.

I understand, of course, that the variations are more difficult.  The question I'm asking is whether someone who has completed and more or less, mastered, the 51, is in a good position to attempt the variations.  It seems that many of the difficulties conquered in the 51 reappear in the variations.

[ivoryplayer_amf]

Listen.  Of course they are hard.  Some of them much more then others.  But remember, you have a teacher.  They will help you out and make it easily understood.  But when playing any of these types of exercises you have to remember speed is not important.  You can always build on speed.  Take things slow and easy...dont try to over complicate things.  I agree with whoever said to figuare out what each exercise is trying to FOCUS on because that should be your focus as well.  You may also want to look into the Clemiti (sp.) exercises.  They work more on a gradual basis.  Again...don't worry about whether it is too hard, but work towards it.  Isnt that what makes a pianist who he or she is?