Adele Marcus Technical Regimen

[schubert_21]

Dear Pianostreet,

I am new here, and was wondering if any members were familiar with the technical exercises suggested by Adele Marcus, a pianist who taught many successful students including Horacio Gutierrez and Byron Janis.  My teacher just gave me a packet that included an explanation of the exercises that Marcus suggested for these students, and I was wondering if any of the fine pianists here have any opinions on it.  Thanks in advance!

Sincerely, Schubert_21

[kitty on the keys]

I know these very well. My coach was also her student. All I will say is, what is on paper and how she taught them are 2 different things. These exercizes will work if done absolutely correctly. If you know an Adel Marus pupil, contact them....they will show how to do them correctly.

Kitty on the Keys

[jazzyprof]

You could contact pianist Jeffrey Biegel.  He studied with Adele Marcus and offers lessons by Skype: https://www.pianoworld.com/Piano_Lessons_Online.html

[Bob]

Can you post them here?  It's probably nothing new though.  I haven't heard of them.

[schubert_21]

Thanks for feedback.  No, I can't post them because its 30 pages long and I have piano to practice.  Sorry.  You might be able to find it using Dr. Google.

Sincerely, Schubert_21

[jgallag]

I studied with Jennifer Hayghe and now study with Phyllis Lehrer, both of whom were students of Miss Marcus. Neither thought it was necessary to give me a full 30 pages of regimen. I have, however, done the stretching exercises. As is obvious with all exercises, they can be severely damaging or incredibly useful, depending on how you do them. If nobody has showed you the correct way to perform the exercises, you are better off not taking the risk. You can get all the technique you need from careful and conscious practice of real music, anyways.

[kitty on the keys]

jgallag,
      You are so correct. My coach also studied with Madame Marcus and he demonstrated how these exercizes are to be learned.....and they do produce results. I guess you went to Ithaca College, I know most of the piano faculty there......great peolpe. Jennifer is amazing!!! Best of luck with your studies.

Kitty on the keys

[jgallag]

Thanks kitty. Ithaca was a wonderful place. I miss it sorely.

I forgot to mention one thing: Adele Marcus was a great teacher. This is not because she gave special technical exercises to her students. This is because she knew the potential of the piano to make amazing sounds, and she had the ear to guide her students to a full musical palette. She knew exactly what the audience should hear, and she accepted nothing less from her students. To a fault: many of her students suffered psychologically as a result of study with her, and most of her students vow never to treat their students as she did them. In the end, though, technique is really the wrong side of the coin to be thinking of here. What you really need to learn is how to listen. I have found in my own and the studies of my colleagues that many of us have the physical ability to sound amazing at the piano. What we lack is the mental fortitude to listen critically to our sound. If you find that, no matter what you do, you cannot get a sound you want, then ask your teacher for exercises and advice. Otherwise, listen harder. There is no secret to great piano playing other than one must always, always be listening.