Can't Play Czerny

[therobk]

Hi, this is my first time posting on this or any other piano forum, so, hello all!

Anyway, I have currently been teaching myself the piano for about four years now through piano books and other resources. I do recognize the importance of having a teacher but unfortunately I do not have the time or the money currently to have one. Which is why I came here.

So far, in the books I have been working out of, I have had two Czerny pieces which I have extreme trouble with. Every other piece I have worked on I have been able to learn to play but I am specifically having immense difficulty in working his op. 261 #5 up to speed. I find that my pinky is not strong enough to play the quick notes required of it (mm. 1-2) (the portion which is more thumb based I am able to play easily (mm. 3-4)). I came here to find out if this is a common problem and/or if there are any specific exercises which could help with it.

I understand it is very hard to diagnose or teach over the internet so I greatly appreciate any and all responses.

[stoudemirestat]

When you say you can't play it up to speed, do you mean the set metronome speed? Does this piece have a set metronome  speed?

[therobk]

Well, the speed indication is allegro. I can play it andante or so. I use a metronome while I'm learning pieces and I can play it around 100 bpm but every time I try to take it faster my fingers start failing me.

[rmbarbosa]

That`s why Czerny exercises and similars may be less useful... You may wish to choose another approach: do see where is your dificulty and direct your exercises in order to win that specific difficulty. If the difficulty lies in a weak finger, for example, work with this finger only, you see?
But we dont need very strong fingers, because "strong" is the enemy of "fast". May be, your problem lies in finger independence. If it`s the case, you may try a very easy exercise: hold down your five finger and then play 1-2, 1-2, 1-2.... 1-3, 1-3, 1-3... 1-4....1-5, 2-3, 2-4,2-5, 3-4..3-5... "ad nauseum".
If your problem is speed, use parallel sets (in the right top of this page, you may search many posts about parallel sets, ok?).
Best wishes.
Rui

[_achilles_]

This might be basic to you or you may have never heard about it before.. but make sure you hand is very relaxed when playing.. Just trying playing some scales and gradually work them faster with your hands relaxed and if you're experience is anything like mine you'll be amazed at how fast you can go.. Also minimize hand movement.. watching good pianists on youtube always amazes me because they make it look so easy, they play tons of notes and you barely even see them moving their hands. Those two concepts go hand in hand.

[pianoyutube]

I've had a look at this exercise.
I think that you are wasting time with it. It's very difficult, because you have to almost trill with fingers 4 and 5, and I think that's not very useful, at your level, or mine. (I suppose professional piano players can do that, but they are not asking for advice here  )

If I were you I'll leave it, better spend your time playing real music (Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven ...) instead of that exercise. We don't need to play trills with fingers 4 and 5 in most pieces.

[pianoplayjl]

OR maybe play some etudes that at least have more musical quality than Czerny like Heller and Burgmuller.