Liszt Technical Exercise

[MattL]

I was just wandering sheetmusicplus.com when I discovered that Liszt wrote as series of technical exercised for the piano. The sheet Music costs $25 and my question to you is it worth spending $25 on these exercises.

I am interested in understanding, before attempting, what certain aspects of technque these exercises develop or strengthen. Is it worth the effort to learn these exercises or should I just attempt to try a different  exercise book.

Thanks,

Matt LaCoste

[nicko124]

The reason they cost a lot is the fact that there are so many of them. The book is over 200 pages long, I would say it's worth it if you really want to improve your technique.

I can't help you with the 2nd question regarding 'aspects of technique'. I only got them this christmas and I have not had time to look at them yet.

[thalbergmad]

You can download it on the link below, if you want to have a look.

https://s65.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3K3KXMI65VRW829OPPTJ7BU3UC

[maul]

Much respect, thalberg.

[musicsdarkangel]

I think that the excersizes are excellent.

I should get practicing them again.

They improved my octave technique big time, but it pretty much covers anything you can think of.

Liszt's genius shows through in these excersizes and I have no doubt in my mind that he wrote them.

[iumonito]

Don't you think it would be much more profitable to study a few Haydn and Mozart sonatas, Bach's inventions and sinfonias and the Brahms-Paganini studies carefully?

If you have the patience to do these exercises in any way that would make an impression on your technique, you definitiely also have the patience to do the same type of work with something more enjoyable and beautiful (and probably better for your technique).

Why do Hanon if you can do Chopin preludes and etudes?

[zheer]

Why do Hanon if you can do Chopin preludes and etudes?

 
   Thats true so long as you dont turn good music into finger exercise.

[MattL]

Thanks thalberg for that Link. I think i will try out the first couple and see if I notice an improvement.

In response to the person who stated i shouldtry sopme works, the reason why i want these exercises is because they are short and easy to sight read through. My sight reading is at best sub-par and I just don't have the patience to learn an entire peice which only improves a coupld of technical skills. I want to acquire the technique to go those pieces and learn them for their musical aspects, not their technical ones.

[iumonito]

You mistake my meaning.

What I am saying is that rather than work on finger exercises, it is much better to take a few measures that include a techincal problem, and work on it the way you would on a finger exercise.

BTW, the organization of the work (Liszt's, I mean) does not lend well to just getting the first two and see what happens).  Like any encyclopaedia, the order of the exercises is less important than finding the right subject to work on.

if your sight-reading also needs some exertion, may I recommend you start with the two-part inventions.  very good for your fingers and for your eyes (and ear, and soul).