I know this topic is already discussed too much, but I feel like I like Hanon's exercises. I need a little advice on this because I am a little worried; I spend 30 - 45 minutes on Hanon and scales, but does Hanon's exercises do more harm than good? I still play it musically though, being aware of staccato, legato, etc. Will it be alright to do some exercises of Hanon if I keep it that way?

Just my opinion: keep yourself away from Hanon, as far as you can But do continue with the scales, they are very beneficial. But according to Hofmann (and I think that also Lhevinne) 30 minutes a day is enough of technical exercises and scales.

staccato, legato, etc. Will it be alright to do some exercises of Hanon if I keep it that way?

In my humble opinion, I don't think so. It's absurd to try to put musicality to something that is not musical at all. The scales case is different, the scales are music (or, at least they are part of, or some of the basis of) and it's good to practice them with some expressive variations, as you already do.

In my opinion Hanon is potentially harmful, both physically (they are boring and strenuous, the exercises are excessively long, they can injure your arms) and mentally (45 minutes of those unmusical exercises... Oh my...). But, the most important: they are useless. In my opinion there's nothing in the real musical world that you will find on those exercises, so they cannot prepare for anything of the real world.

I know this topic is already discussed too much, but I feel like I like Hanon's exercises. I need a little advice on this because I am a little worried; I spend 30 - 45 minutes on Hanon and scales, but does Hanon's exercises do more harm than good? I still play it musically though, being aware of staccato, legato, etc. Will it be alright to do some exercises of Hanon if I keep it that way?

Drop Hanon, keep scales and arpeggios. I made much better progress when I abandoned the daily 45 minutes of Hanon. Doing a lot of Hanon makes you feel like you're working hard, but it's very easy to be lazy in your mind even while your fingers are zooming up and down. It's addictive and relaxing to just let your fingers fly, but I think it is largely a waste of time.

I had entirely stopped doing any scales or exercises and made faster progress. Lately, my teacher told me to to scales and arps just 10-15 minutes a day. I'm trying it out to see whether it helps; I'm not convinced that it's any better than working on repertoire with lots of scales and arps included in the music. And it's amazing how easily the 10 minutes can stretch into 40-50. My teacher agrees, though that Hanon, as opposed to scales and arps, is of little use.

As someone said in this post, it is good as long as you practice 30 minutes.

The scales of course are important (in some piano exams scales are asked to be played before the selected pieces).

If you exaggerate with Hanon, then of course it will be more harmful and useless rather than beneficial.

If we see playing piano as physical exercise and fitness, then Hanon could be considered as warm-up exercises: short and quick in order to warm the body so it won't be very rigid.

My mother once gave me a list of three things not to be brought up in polite society: Money, religion, and politics.

To that list, I would like to add Hanon.

This obsession with Hanon is truly bizarre.  As if it were the key to piano-playing. 

Actually, it is extremely useful - - but as in many things, the key is in how it is used 

When I struggle with a specific finger pattern in my practice piece, I'd try to figure out the problem and ask my teacher to recommend a specific Hanon exercise to target my weakness. 

Why not practise difficult part within context?

Hanon is just a pattern over scales, isn't it?  And just a finger pattern.

No.

The pedagogy behind Hanon (if you read all of the text before you get to the "music") is very outdated and damaging.

No.

The pedagogy behind Hanon (if you read all of the text before you get to the "music") is very outdated and damaging.

Astounding the amount of people who say it has helped them then.

Are they all suffering delusions??

Thal

"If it works use it, if it don't, dump it."

Sounds good to me! It worked for me, but it probably doesn't work for everyone else. Although I kind of agree that the way Hanon tells you to play his exercises may not be the most effective.

Astounding the amount of people who say it has helped them then.

Are they all suffering delusions??

Thal

Sorry, couldn't resist:

http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Joel-Fantasies-Delusions-1-10/dp/B00005Q6KS

Indeed, i rarely go beyond that myself, unless have i have been away from the piano for a few months.

The only piano piece that ever caused me an injury was the "Staccato" etude by Rubinstein.

Now that should have a health warning.

Thal