How much should i practice?

[musicioso]

Hallo guys,

Here i am again with a question. How much should i (not) practice? I have been practising some finger exercises 2 hours or more everyday for a month. Is that ok? Or should i take a break for one or more days to give the hand time to recover and stuff?


Whats the best way to gain optimal finger dexterity regarding practice and break? I am talking about technique only,

Any suggestion and advise is most most welcome

Thanks in advance

[outin]

I do not really see the benefit of doing finger exercises for two hours a day. At least if your goal is to make music. A lot less will give you enough general workout to be able to do music. 15-30 minutes would be more than enough IMO.

[musicioso]

I do not really see the benefit of doing finger exercises for two hours a day. At least if your goal is to make music. A lot less will give you enough general workout to be able to do music. 15-30 minutes would be more than enough IMO.

hmm interesting.

You know what it is? I dont play music from sheet. Thats not really my goal. I wanna do some cool improvisations. And therefore i need to develop good fingering and good precision and speed. I have been doing the first 8 Hanon exercises in different keys, C, C# and D. And i must say its quit helping.

But the problem is, is ont know how to get the maximum out of it. So what do you think, is it better to do it every day, or take one day break and one day exercise and so on?

Or maybe you have better idea.

btw thanks for your reply sir!!

[outin]

With my limited experience I would say it's better to take a break every now and then. Pieces that require much fingerwork for me definitely get better if I do not work on the every day for weeks... A week break seems to be too much, I need to work to get the fingers firm again, but 2-3 days seems to be good every now and then. I used to practice every day, but now due to work I sometimes miss a day or two and it was a pleasant surprise to notice that it actually doesn't hurt at all, quite the opposite...

[ajspiano]

While the dedication is admirable i think you are pushing yourself in the wrong direction considering your aim.

How does pushing your technique in this way lead you to being able to improvise? Its a little like your reciting meaningless combinations of letters from the alphabet and expecting that to improve your ability to form real words and sentences.

Good improvisation requires you to manage many tasks in your head simultaneously. One major part of this that your missing out on just now is independent coordination. Bach inventions are the best for this however a while ago there was some discussion about using hanon to acheive some of this initially by working multiple exercises at the same time... Such as playing ex. 1 in the RH and ex. 2 in the LH. This is considerable more of an interesting challenge than just playing straight up and down in unison.

Additionally you need to be developing your ear. You should be singing every note you play in your head as you play it. Also, test yourself.. Sing the note you intend to play before you play it. Get to know what every potential next note sounds like without needing to actually hear it played.

Get some sheets for MUSIC that is in the genre that you want to start improvising in and study them. Transpose them into different keys and generally copy their compositional ideas to make music. You need to start making music as the primary focus of your practice. Developing the musical skills is an infinitely bigger task than developing the technical ones.

Go to the improvisation board (within the audition room) look for threads by derek. Specifically the one thats called something like "my thoughts on baroque improv". Watch the videos in there. There are some really good musical exercises relating to how to improvise multiple lines in good harmony. The skills learnt will not only apply to baroque music.

[soitainly]

 I am a bit perplexed by your course of study. Learning Hanon or other exercises doesn't seem to relate to improvisation much, unless you are a great improviser on another instrument, and just are trying to gain dexterity on piano.

 When you say you need a break, are you feeling pain or tension, then obviously yes. Do you need a break because your bored out of your skull, probably. I have been through periods where I practice daily with no breaks for years other than days when I just can't find the time. I more recently become a little more relaxed, sometimes a break will retrigger some motivation. But if you are fresh and are not having any physical or mental problems from practicing every day, then practice as much as you want.

[musicioso]

soitainly, ajspiano, outin

Guys, thank you for your reply.

I have to say that i totally agree with you guys. What i am doing is not the key to learn improvisation. But this is not the only thing i do. After these exercise I also do other things, like improvising on different scales and trying to find good matching chords and stuff.

In the near future is will also ask questions about improvisation and theory. But right now i really need to gain some good technique. Because my right hand is injured now i have to get the best out of my left hand.

Here you can read about whats wrong with my right hand, if you wish, of course

(i believe oatin already read this     )


https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=38906.0

[outin]

In the near future is will also ask questions about improvisation and theory. But right now i really need to gain some good technique. Because my right hand is injured now i have to get the best out of my left hand.

Here you can read about whats wrong with my right hand, if you wish, of course

(i believe oatin already read this     )


https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=38906.0

Yes, I remembered you having some problems. And it worries me that you do such exercises in such a vast amount with an injury. Because IF the injury is related to the way you use your hands or there's something wrong with the position/alignment of your wrist, elbow or shoulder, doing hours of finger exercises fast is not the  solution. Playing very slowly, or if fast with a very light touch, counciously trying to feel if there is tension, listening to the sound and trying to relax your upper body seems to be a better way to find a technique that is both fluent and effortless. And avoid any further injury and get rid of your problems. I have some experience with this myself...

[musicioso]

Yes, I remembered you having some problems. And it worries me that you do such exercises in such a vast amount with an injury. Because IF the injury is related to the way you use your hands or there's something wrong with the position/alignment of your wrist, elbow or shoulder, doing hours of finger exercises fast is not the  solution. Playing very slowly, or if fast with a very light touch, counciously trying to feel if there is tension, listening to the sound and trying to relax your upper body seems to be a better way to find a technique that is both fluent and effortless. And avoid any further injury and get rid of your problems. I have some experience with this myself...

I dont go too far with my right hand. Most of the time when i do Hanon (and Macfarren - Scale and Arpeggio Manual) its only with the left hand.

I am very careful, thats why i am here with this kind of questions, almost every week a new question haha

My injury might be caused by overuse of computer mouse and writing (holding the pen too tight haha). And also by general stress, yes i get stressed quickly when i have to work hard and hurry up  

But dont worry please, i wont get another injury. And i really appreciate your help.