Piano Practice Books

[jtabbott8]

Hi, im going on my 4th year of piano lessons. i guess you could say im intermediate,but i dont feel like im actually learning the instrument as well as i should.I am wanting to be a music major in college, (2 years from now)
im really wanting to practice much more and become much better, i would like to practice 3 to 4 hours a day.. i have heard alot about books like Hanon, Czerny, Liszt excercises.. but i know nothing about any of the excersize books. if any one has any recomendations or thoughts, PLEASE give me your thoughts.
thanks!

[mcdiddy1]

My suggestion for you to try and become the best musician you can be in order to really improve. There is no exercise book like Hanon, Czerny, etc that is going to turn you into a great pianist. That comes from a strong understanding of technique, theory, musicianship and how to combine these things in an effective way to get the most out of your practice in a short period of time. I think all of this is greatly aided by having an excellent teacher and allowing yourself to experience excellent playing through concerts, competitions, recitals, musical festivals etc. if you are able to work and leant from other musicians such as singers, other pianist, orchestras etc you can pick up a great deal of musical background to help in your playing.

Hanon is a finger exercise book with of running sixteenth notes musical patterns that is intended to be played all keys and supposedly strengthen the fingers to achieve independence. There are some who swear by as a way to practice evenness, speed, and hand coordination. I think it may be of some benefit for those who do not play the piano much and may want some simple warm ups to practive moving the fingers together but I don't think is very helpful in the longer term and beyond the first couple of exercises it loses it's effectiveness.

Czerny are exercises that consist of simple, yet repeatative left Alberti bass patterns in the left hand and often clean, balanced classical like melodies. People like them because it is actually melodic although the writing is not especially brilliant and feel it is a good gateway to more difficult Beethoven and Mozart sonata. I personally am not high on them because I feel you can find more creative quality music on every level.

Liszt exercise I assume you are talking about trancendental etudes and grand etudes. They really are more for pianist with advance technique and experience. I think you should work on them if you have some advance repertoire such as Chopin etudes, and Beethoven sonatas under your belt. You are not going to benefit by fat ruffling through advanced repertoire.you would want to work on repertoire a bit beyond your level that is a challenge but not something way above your head.

Like I said I think all the exercise books you get are not going to do you a great deal of good unless you have a good teacher to guide you in what to expect when you enroll to be a music major, assess your technique and current repertoire, guide you toward achievable goals and hopefully learn not only about the piano but about music in general.

[jtabbott8]

thank you for your reply, i know this is going to sound like a silly question.. but how? how do i become a better musician? and i feel like my problem is i dont fully understand technique,theory, and musicianship.. i want to be the best musician i can be, because it is what i genuinely love to do.. but i feel like when i practice, im just practicing a song that my teacher gave me or chord progressions, i dont feel like im truly learning the instrument, which is what i want to do..

[rachmaninoff_forever]

thank you for your reply, i know this is going to sound like a silly question.. but how? how do i become a better musician? and i feel like my problem is i dont fully understand technique,theory, and musicianship.. i want to be the best musician i can be, because it is what i genuinely love to do.. but i feel like when i practice, im just practicing a song that my teacher gave me or chord progressions, i dont feel like im truly learning the instrument, which is what i want to do..

Do you have teacher?

[keypeg]

Do you have teacher?

See

but i feel like when i practice, im just practicing a song that my teacher gave me or chord progressions, i dont feel like im truly learning the instrument, which is what i want to do.

[mcdiddy1]

thank you for your reply, i know this is going to sound like a silly question.. but how? how do i become a better musician? and i feel like my problem is i dont fully understand technique,theory, and musicianship.. i want to be the best musician i can be, because it is what i genuinely love to do.. but i feel like when i practice, im just practicing a song that my teacher gave me or chord progressions, i dont feel like im truly learning the instrument, which is what i want to do..

I dont think it is a sily question because I do think it can be difficult especially if you do not have the resources or your area does not allow you. But I think the best thing to do is attended masterclasses, concerts, read books, talk to other musicians, take music theory or history classes and learn an instrument outside of your comfort zone etc. In my opinion the best pianist have a variety of musical experiences. All the major composers Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms  played instruments outside of the piano. Often great piano teachers want you to sing at the piano or play this like an oboe and it certainly helps to know what that means.

[jtabbott8]

thank you. and yes i do have a teacher. i know im going to sound very novice when i ask this, but what are masterclasses? and when you say read books do you mean things like "note speller" and things like that, or actual books. (if actual books, which ones?) i also play guitar, but i have only been playing for about 9 months, and sing. and im guessing that music theory and music history classes are college classes? correct?
thanks so much.

[mcdiddy1]

thank you. and yes i do have a teacher. i know im going to sound very novice when i ask this, but what are masterclasses? and when you say read books do you mean things like "note speller" and things like that, or actual books. (if actual books, which ones?) i also play guitar, but i have only been playing for about 9 months, and sing. and im guessing that music theory and music history classes are college classes? correct?
thanks so much.

Great you should ask your teacher about what opportunities are available. Masterclasses are basically a private lesson done in front of a crowd. The purpose to have musicians who play at a high level with well prepared pieces be coached by great teachers with the purpose of educating the performer and those in attendance. They often have them at universities and many times they are free. Often there is an opportunity to ask the teacher questions and pick up some tricks on how to play better. By read books I mean there are actual books entirely on technique and very informative on how to practice and improve. Some high schools offer music history and music theory classes. I have even heard of some being offered in churches often with a choir who is trying to learn to read.

Useful books include fundamentals of piano practice by Chang which are available online? There are countless books to choose from.