Need Help...

[shaq112]

Hello everyone I'm new. I've just started playing the piano this past summer and I could really use your help. So I've just recently read Chuan C. Chang book "Fundamentals of Practice" it had some good tips but also he mentioned doing hanon exercises was a waste of time, and other stuff that I've been doing.

After reading the book I became confused on what I should practice to become a better pianist. So what should I practice on guys??

[cwjalex]

i started playing without lessons but this is what worked for me.  i picked pieces that i absolutely loved so it made me want to practice more.  also once you learn them it will motivate you a lot.  if you just started this summer it is important that you just practice regularly and for me the best way to do this is try to learn pieces of music i love.

[pianoplunker]

Hello everyone I'm new. I've just started playing the piano this past summer and I could really use your help. So I've just recently read Chuan C. Chang book "Fundamentals of Practice" it had some good tips but also he mentioned doing hanon exercises was a waste of time, and other stuff that I've been doing.

After reading the book I became confused on what I should practice to become a better pianist. So what should I practice on guys??

Based on being new, learning all the scales is important. If you are not sure about the proper fingering, just look it up in Hanon. Not a waste of time

[indianajo]

Dissing Hanon is a good way for Mr. Chang to sell more books.  but public domain Hanon & Czerny, private Edna Berman that I learned on, were exercises books that took one through the movements one needs to learn as a pianist, in the shortest time possible IMHO.  Yes, exercises are boring.  So are pushups, situps, and jogging.  So is shooting baskets alone.  If you don't eat your beets, how can you have any pudding? 

[outin]

  If you don't eat your beets, how can you have any pudding? 

Why not make yourself some beet pudding?

[chopincat]

Hanon exercises aren't a waste of time. They really give you the technique and finger strength that you need to be a good pianist. Playing pieces without this kind of technique will just result in bad playing. Of course, if you find Hanon to be particularly boring, then there are other exercises out there (I have a Czerny book which is excellent, for example). But Hanon is generally considered to be the best. I'd also recommend learning scales, arpeggios and block chords in different key signatures, which are extremely beneficial.

[chopinlover01]

Thinking in a key. It helps immensely with sight reading and composing (if the latter appeals to you).