Does practicing Hanon Exercises help increase speed on the piano?

[jason_sioco]

I once had carpal tunnel on my right hand. During that time, I played piano with only the left hand, because the right hand was hurting. Also during this time I had schizophrenia so I experience delusions and a false world. I remember waking up early in the morning practicing Hanon Studies with my left hand 5 days a week. I kept doing it for a period of time and I ended up playing the exercise, with my left hand at a very, very fast speed, as if I was possessed. When my schizophrenia was gone and my carpal tunnel healed, I tried to play Hanon Studies with both hands, this time I could not play fast as before. Was I only experiencing schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, etc or did I play really fast? Does practicing Hanon exercises help increase speed on the piano?

[marijn1999]

No because you can't improve general speed with any exercise. You have to practice the particular section you would like to play at a fast speed to learn your hand how to do so.

[pjjslp]

Does practicing Hanon exercises help increase speed on the piano?

I think practicing Hanon exercises will help you increase speed on playing those Hanon exercises.

[jason_sioco]

No because you can't improve general speed with any exercise. You have to practice the particular section you would like to play at a fast speed to learn your hand how to do so.

From https://www.hanon-online.com/

Hanon piano exercises have been meticulously constructed to provide the optimum level of practice for pianists of all levels and abilities. The full series of exercises have a proven track record in improving technical skill, speed and precision stretching back well over a century.
First published in 1873, The Virtuoso Pianist by Charles Louis Hanon has become a valuable source of inspiration for piano teachers, students and performers. The original 60 Hanon exercises have now been perfected and transposed to every major key, offering participants the maximum performance training and practice available.

To gain the utmost benefits from the logical progression of Hanon exercises, it is recommended to practise these piano exercises on a daily basis. In that way, pupils will rapidly notice the difference as their fingers become stronger and far more adept at challenging works and techniques.
A key element of the piano finger exercises is the focus on the daily repetitions of strengthening hands and fingers. The primary idea is to instil independence and flexibility in the performing digits, allowing every pianist's internal virtuoso out onto the musical stage.
Through the focused and concentrated practice of these exercises, all students can attain the fundamentals of superb performance and playing.


With the strength, endurance and general proficiency that piano finger exercises can encourage, it is no surprise that the wonderfully illuminating work of Charles Louis Hanon has remained a primary text for all pianists wishing to improve their entire range of piano playing capabilities.

I asked this question, if there are people at piano street, who used Hanon Studies. I guess no one wants to help me.

[reiyza]

Both pjjslp and marjin have answered your question. As you've said, you have a mental illness. Maybe your brain didn't read their replies properly.

I don't know if my opinion will help you in any way, but I'll tell you this. Practicing high fingers promotes independence of fingers imo. But playing fast will require new set of movements. Hanon won't help you there. Get a teacher.

[quantum]

Playing both hands also requires greater coordination.  Temperament, control, and command of technique in fast passages are IMO greater factors in the listeners perception of "speed" than raw speed or the performer's feel of playing fast.  It is a possibility that your playing hands together illuminated some of these factors. 

I agree with the above replies.  Practicing fast Hanon will allow you to play Hanon fast.  If you want to play other stuff fast, practice the other stuff. 

[109natsu]

Hi Jason,

Okay, many people have answered this question with different answers.

I personally have used Hanon exercises in the past, and they help in some ways.

Let's be clear.

Hanon exercises are exercises. All exercises are intended to help one on technical difficulties.
 However, if you don't play them correctly, they will just be a waste of time. So I guess they do help you. But they are just exercises. Like what they said,

You have to practice the particular section you would like to play at a fast speed to learn your hand how to do so.

I think practicing Hanon exercises will help you increase speed on playing those Hanon exercises.

It is better to practice a particular section of the piece you are playing. In my opinion, playing different difficult sections are much better than playing boring exercises that you can't play in public.

It is entirely up to you to play Hanon or not. I only play Hanon when there is nothing else to do

Natsu

PS

Both pjjslp and marjin have answered your question. As you've said, you have a mental illness. Maybe your brain didn't read their replies properly.

I don't know if my opinion will help you in any way, but I'll tell you this. Practicing high fingers promotes independence of fingers imo. But playing fast will require new set of movements. Hanon won't help you there. Get a teacher.

You shouldn't be disrespectful towards people in general, but you are disrespecting someone who has gone through mental illness. If you think that someone isn't understanding something properly, if I were you, I would try to sort things out and explain nicely... Not talking about getting a teacher. However, teachers are helpful, I agree. And you sure do need Hanon if you are still playing Pathetique.

[pjjslp]

I asked this question, if there are people at piano street, who used Hanon Studies. I guess no one wants to help me.

Huh. I thought you asked whether playing Hanon exercises would generally increase your playing speed, and I think that question was addressed. Are you upset because I answered your question without mentioning my own experience with Hanon? I actually played several Hanon exercises when I first started playing piano again after a 20 year break, to help get some dexterity back into my creaky fingers. I couldn't play what I used to play, and I didn't want to introduce error into anything new, so exercises seemed like a good choice to get my fingers moving again. I had Hanon, so that seemed as good as anything else for my purposes. Once I regained my dexterity to roughly my former level, I put the Hanon away. It's boring and I'd rather play actual music. For what it's worth, I did not follow the directions about curved fingers, lifting them high, etc. I just played the notes evenly and gradually increased speed to "work out the kinks," so to speak.

My answer remains the same, though. Learning to play Hanon fast will not necessarily translate into the ability to play other things fast.

[outin]

Sometimes the issues go deeper than is possible to address on a public forum. This seems to be such a case. The OP has previously talked about his problems with teachers (which are now easier to understand). He also does not handle our responses well when they are not to his liking. So I think this is one more thread ready to be buried...

To OP: You may get some benefit in Hanon if used wisely and not in excess. Or you may waste a lot of time doing it. No-one here can give you an answer because we don't see your practice. There are certainly more musically interesting ways to acquire playing skills and it would be better for you to stop obsessing about speed and concentrate on other issues that you have in your playing. Speed will develope on it's own if it's meant to happen. If not, there are more important qualities in playing.

[louispodesta]

I once had carpal tunnel on my right hand. During that time, I played piano with only the left hand, because the right hand was hurting. Also during this time I had schizophrenia so I experience delusions and a false world. I remember waking up early in the morning practicing Hanon Studies with my left hand 5 days a week. I kept doing it for a period of time and I ended up playing the exercise, with my left hand at a very, very fast speed, as if I was possessed. When my schizophrenia was gone and my carpal tunnel healed, I tried to play Hanon Studies with both hands, this time I could not play fast as before. Was I only experiencing schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, etc or did I play really fast? Does practicing Hanon exercises help increase speed on the piano?
[/quoFirst, I, as a pianist/philosopher, I assume that by your inquiry that you have the makings of a true talented gentle soul.  I have been wrong before, but I, Madam or Sir, give you the benefit of the doubt.

Accordingly, I post a partial prior response to a similar posting:

["With all due respect to those who have posted, I have noticed that there is no specific mention regarding any method of "key attack." This references how one/pianist strikes a particular key or a set of keys.

1)  I was taught, by my late teacher Robert Weaver, that one should rest their hands, with fingers "resting" on the keys,  in a standard five finger position, at "Middle C" (and a corresponding octave below).

2)  That also  means you are sitting erect, not stiff, but relaxed at the keyboard, with a full but relaxed arm weight.

3)  Then, practice playing (super slow!) 1-5 in a very soft staccato fashion with little or no movement in either hand (super still!).

4)  After one has mastered this, the same modality should be effectuated with broken chords and dominant seventh and diminished arpeggios, accordingly."]

In terms of speed, if you are genuinely concerned with my prior discourse on that subject, please contact me by PM.

Thank you so much for your interest in this very important technique discussion.
te]

[louispodesta]

My original post, for the record!

Accordingly, I post a partial prior response to a similar posting:

["With all due respect to those who have posted, I have noticed that there is no specific mention regarding any method of "key attack." This references how one/pianist strikes a particular key or a set of keys.

1)  I was taught, by my late teacher Robert Weaver, that one should rest their hands, with fingers "resting" on the keys,  in a standard five finger position, at "Middle C" (and a corresponding octave below).

2)  That also  means you are sitting erect, not stiff, but relaxed at the keyboard, with a full but relaxed arm weight.

3)  Then, practice playing (super slow!) 1-5 in a very soft staccato fashion with little or no movement in either hand (super still!).

4)  After one has mastered this, the same modality should be effectuated with broken chords and dominant seventh and diminished arpeggios, accordingly."]

In terms of speed, if you are genuinely concerned with my prior discourse on that subject, please contact me by PM.

Thank you so much for your interest in this very important technique discussion.

[mrcreosote]

I guess I was hoping to hear specific discussion about speed - and if Hanon didn't, what did.

[vaniii]

Speed is confidence, little more.

You practise slow, until you know it and I promise you will naturally play faster.

Playing fast if you don't really know it, means you have false confidence.and will likely fail.

Exercise do little apart from strengthen coordination and connection to the synapses.

[stevensk]

-Why are you conserned about speed? Do you feel chased by something?

[bjenkins24]

I think practicing Hanon exercises will help you increase speed on playing those Hanon exercises.

This is the best answer. If your goal is to play Hanon exercises fast and well, then practice Hanon. If you want to play real music well, practice real music. Who in the world is excited to play and perform Hanon? Practice real music.

[louispodesta]

This is the best answer. If your goal is to play Hanon exercises fast and well, then practice Hanon. If you want to play real music well, practice real music. Who in the world is excited to play and perform Hanon? Practice real music.

As an addendum to my prior post, my father practiced four hours a day after work as an examining physician for the U.S. Veteran's' Administration.  He grew up in the early Jazz, Big Band, Broadway, and Movie musical eras.

However, he training as a youth was strictly classical.  So, every day he played all of the Hanon Exercises, which is what I did later early on and then later when I decided to study seriously at UNT under the late Jack Roberts.

It made no difference at all regarding his technique or mine.  He could never get the Moonlight Sonata up to speed, and when I started at North Texas, I could not effectively play a scale!

So, in that I have stated this before on this website for all to peruse, if you want further advice on how to gain speed, then you can contact me by PM.

The bottom line, as stated by this post and others, is that the Hanon Exercises (and its so-called mastery) are specific to themselves, and absolutely nothing else!