Warm up and Hanon

[hoffmanntales]

Hi!

I can't play more than a couple of hours a day so I'd like to optimize time I can daily dedicate to my piano. I've been used to spending 20-25 minutes a day to warm up on Hanon's exercises (especially nn. 1-30) but I wonder if it actually worths it... I mean isn't it better to spend this nearly 25% of the total available time in playing anything better, that can be suited both to warming up and improving my tecnique?

What do you suggest?
Thanks

[anda]

to warm up, i use chords (5 notes, diminished chords - made from minor3rds), played 1+4 (notes), 2+3, 3+2, 4+1. after that, i play chopin etudes at half tempo and go progressive towards actual tempo. personally, i prefer op. 10 no. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 12; also op. 25 no. 6 and 8. doesn't take more than 20-30 min (timing depends upon needs), and works pretty good.

[Clare]

I wouldn't really bother with hanon. It only seems to concentrate on wiggling your fingers a lot whereas many people should do exercises helping their wrists to move more freely or something.
I mean, I've dabbled in hanon, but I've invariably given up on it. I might go back to it some day, though.
If I were you, and had limited time, I'd play a few wrist exercises, maybe one or two hanon things if you're still keen on it, and then spend the rest of your half-hour doing scales.

[bernhard]

Drop the Hanon. completely useless, waste of time.

Warm up (it is not really necessary, but if you are convinced you have to...) with counterpoint music: e.g. Bach and Scarlatti. Easy stuff, like two voice inventions and the easier sonatas.

Then decide which piece youare oging to tackle in your practice session (don't practice for more than one hour consecutively) and work real hard on the difficult aspects of the piece. If the piece has a lot of scales, practise scales, if thepiece has double thirds, practicse doubel thirds. Then work on the piece.

On your next practice session (have several during the day) tackle a completely different piece.

If you have time do one hour sessions. If you don't do 10 -15 minute sessions.

Above all be very organised (make a practice journal). It saves a lot of time.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.