Piano Self-Study Curriculum - Practice Schedule/Technique Advice Needed

[drapopolus]

If a teacher could please give me some pointers, I would greatly appreciate it. I'll give a rundown of my situation.
 
I started teaching myself to play piano a year ago. I've been using Ableton Live for a good number of years to produce dance music, and my initial goal was simply to be able to play and compose chord progressions and melodies using a midi keyboard. I was tired of relying on midi packs/not knowing how to develop a 4 bar progression, and then getting stuck in a hole. I've since taught myself a lot about music theory and I guess that my interest has expanded. I'm always hungry to learn more at the piano, and about music in general. I play daily. I also do relative pitch exercises daily. 
 
My current schedule involves 4 hours of practice per day. I try to distribute these hours evenly, so as to break them up and ensure that I'm refreshed for each session. I start each hour with scale warm ups (with a metronome). I usually select just a few scales for the first 20 minutes of each hour block, eg. I'll practice hands separate natural minor, then harmonic, then melodic for a key. Perhaps two keys. If I feel I've got the scale well under my fingers I do hands-together contrary motion.
 
Alternatively, I practice arpeggios. With my left hand I play a block chord and with my right hand I play the chord in arpeggio form over 2 octaves (With a metronome). I then switch hands. I only manage to complete a few chords per study block, as my metronome speed is only 128 BPM and I like to do a lot of repetitions. I suppose I'll get faster with time. Over the week I run through all major and minor chords in arpeggio form, and all major and minor scales.
 
I then practice pieces for the remaining 40 minutes of each block, hands separate until I feel I've mastered it, then hands together. My rhythm is lacking in this area, so I've started to use a metronome to correct timing errors. 
 
I've never had a teacher, and I'm looking for feedback on my schedule.
 
In addition to this, I wanted some advice on technique. For the first 9 months I played without much consideration toward my technique. I was playing with mistakes, and sometimes individual knuckles would lock on my fingers when I moved my hands into certain positions. Until I watched a professional pianist and witnessed how graceful his movements were. I've been in the process of ironing out kinks ever since. 
 
I've started to involve the upper arm in my playing, and I can feel a lot of the power coming from my pectoral muscles and upper arms. I keep my elbows and wrists loose, and I push slightly forward into the keys (With the power coming from the shoulder joint). I'm working on controlling this force, as I sometimes push into the keys too hard and my hands and fingers do tense up slightly in response/ feel a little sore. It feels great when I manage to keep my wrists and fingers loose enough while playing a piece. I often stop if I realize I'm tensing up at all and drop my hands into my lap to get a feel for the natural force of my arm. Keeping the wrists and fingers loose is easiest when I play triads, and it feels great when all the joints are loose and accept the impact of the stab as a unit. When I play scales, I'm not so sure though. I can keep the fingers quite loose, but usually it's just the 1st key (or cross over) that gets the benefit of gravity, and then my  other fingers do have to press down a bit to depress the keys. 
 
I wanted to know if I'm on the right track and if there's anything I'm missing in regards to my schedule and technique. Any recommendations? Any additions to my schedule? 
 
I want to develop an an adequate, smooth ability. I'm not looking to reach concert pianist level or anything.
 
Much appreciation to whoever feels it within them self to answer my question. Like I said, I"m hungry for knowledge. (And, I would get a teacher in real life, but I live and work in China, and it's proving a little difficult).

[ajspiano]

I'm not going to comment on your technique without seeing you play.

Regarding your scales and theoretical knowledge - I would consider including the study of modes and progressions within a key.

Example - Today's KEY - C major.

Ionian mode - CDEFGABC
Dorian Mode - DEFGABCD
Phrygian Mode - EFGABCDE
etc. - google "major scale modes" or something similar.

Musical progressions, harmonising melodies with arpeggios etc. etc.

Play Ionian mode in RH - harmonise each note with a relevant chord from within the key..

find chords based on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of each mode within the key.
example in c major..

CEG - from ionian mode
DFA - from dorian mode
EGB - etc
FAC
GBD
ACE
BDF


back to the scale in the RH..

first note, "C" can be harmonised by the following chords from within the key of C. CEG, FAC, ACE - because these chords contain the note "C"

Next note, "D" can be harmonised by - DFA, GBD, BDF.

This is basic harmonising - explore the idea and extend it, such as using a harmonic minor as the base scale rather than a major scale. Use chords that extend beyond the first 3 tones, such as CEGB, DFAC etc. Try not to be overly mechanical about it. Listen to what is sounds like and compose progressions that you like the sound of.

AJ

EDIT: once you have your head around how to put notes together into chord progressions remember to ADD music - by that I mean rhythm/texture/actual melodies (rather than a scale) etc.

or in other words, apply your knowledge to either writing whole piano songs, or in your electronic production. Let your ears be your  initial guide and your knowledge solve problems/mental blocks you run into as a way of keeping it moving when you don't know what to do next.

[mozart_to_go]

Sounds like technically you're doing well.  Music making is a passed on kind of thing - it's a language.  Can you imaging learning French from a book never having heard any one speak it?  If it's jazz/pop you're into that's more about hanging around.

[drapopolus]

I'm not going to comment on your technique without seeing you play.

Regarding your scales and theoretical knowledge - I would consider including the study of modes and progressions within a key....

Thank you so much for the swift reply. Given that I don't have any friends here that play the piano I don't really have anyone to guide me. Your post has given me plenty to think about. I'll begin incorporating modes and experimenting immediately. I've been leaning toward spending more time with harmonization and improvisation. After all, it was with this goal in mind that I set out to learn to play the piano.

I have been experimenting with I - IV - V chords in various orders with my right hand playing arpeggated versions of those chords up and down the keyboard, but that's fairly boring. I'm looking to expand on that, but I'm not sure how. I'll try using the modes. If anyone else has any advice with regards to melody and harmonization/ progressions, I'd love to hear it.

As far as technique is concerned, do you have a suggestion on reading material regarding safety and proper technique? I'm sure there are hundreds, but which one would you recommend most?

Thanks again.

[mozart_to_go]

Here:

You're welcome.
Part of Lhevinne's book "Basic Principles of Pianoforte Playing" is online because it appeared in several issues of magazine "The Etude" in 1923 (I got the picture from there; it's in part 2):

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Paul

someone's posted some of Lhevinne's writing - a genius of the piano if there ever was one.

[p2u_]

As far as technique is concerned, do you have a suggestion on reading material regarding safety and proper technique? I'm sure there are hundreds, but which one would you recommend most?

Such books are good if you are ready for them; this means they are useful only if you RECOGNIZE what they describe from your own experience. New ideas may lead to confusion.

On this board, anything written by bernhard on the subject is worth thinking about because of his transparent style with not-too-advanced learners in mind.

For ideas on studying/practising also see Fundamentals of piano practice. There is a download link to the same info in .pdf format. Use it with discretion.

Paul

[ajspiano]

Technical references are generally better with videos - books are great but you are far more likely to misinterpret these than videos.

Google, "dorothy taubman", "Seymour fink" and "Alan Fraser" to start with.

Whatever you get involved with the philosophy is "careful consideration, question everythings validity, keep what ever feels right and works for you". Dont consider these books and videos as gospel truths, rather just ideas that may or may not work for you.

And a big "agree" with Paul. Getting too heavily involved with technique as a relative beginner you may find that you blow yourself out of the water by over thinking things. Such information is intended by the writers to be digested over YEARS with guidance from an experienced teacher.

[danhuyle]

Follow the AMEB syllabus from Preliminary to LMus to pick pieces. Scales and arpeggios, you'll want to learn all keys.

I've seen 9 year old kids play Liszt Concert Etude No2 in F minor aka La Leggerezza. Unreal stuff.

[ajspiano]

If you choose to follow the syllabus route as Dan suggested..

I'm not sure how accessible the AMEB syllabus is from china. You can how ever find the ABRSM one online. Its less extensive but is a fine substitute regardless.

[mozart_to_go]

Trinity is good.  At the end of each grade book are 6 technical studies - they are excellent teaching/learning material.

[drapopolus]

Thanks for all of the replies guys.

I think it would be better to move on with chord progressions and harmonization. Does anyone have any suggestions on method or reading material for improvisation?

[pianoyutube]

You can find books for improvising: https://www.jazzbooks.com
I recommend also "the jazz piano book" from Mark Levine.