Advice about Essential Finger Exercises (Dohnányi)

[bmn3]

Hi.
I am trying a more solid base to be able to improve. I had teachers very sporadically and in the beginning had no instrument. So I never had the basic learning of scales, arpeggios, etc. But I was "learning" directly about the works, but now I have many impediments to learning and I think that doing exercises is a good approach to the problem (in fact I think they have made me improve a bit). (My level is more than mediocre).
I wanted to ask you about the first exercise of:
Essential Finger Exercises (Dohnányi, Ernő)

Is it normal for me to generate tension in my hand By keeping the notes sustained, I have to generate weight in them or try to have a light hand. I ask this because I started yesterday and my first feeling was "ouch that stress!" My thumb was red (literally, the skin of the tip of the finger) after finishing the exercise by the pressure I had endured.

Greetings to all and thank you very much
(I do not speak English)

[mjames]

Obviously not. The exercises may look "simple" because they don't look like Chopin or Liszt etudes, but they're really difficult in that they require a good knowledge of technique to pull off - in other words you need a teacher. Secondly, the point of the exercises (at least the first two pages I used) is to develop a strong legato tone and finger independence - so it's important for you to learn these exercises at a very slow tempo at first, since they look easy it's very tempting to want to start speeding like Sonic at the beginning.

The tension is most likely from poor hand and wrist position (important for these exercises) and the fact that you're not releasing each note like you're supposed to.  My advice is to ditch the exercises and learn some scales/arpeggios properly for 2-3mins everyday before a practice session. If you're in the "I'm a student" phase, it'll do much more harm than good to play these without a strong guide.

[nw746]

According to my teacher #3, who prescribed these exercises regularly, one should not do them for more than five minutes at a time and should immediately stop if anything becomes painful or tense. If trying to do No. 1 for any amount of time results in tension or pain, maybe try practicing one of the other exercises first, e.g. Nos. 12 or 13 which are also five-finger exercises but don't involve held notes.

[bmn3]

Hi. Thank you very much!
At this moment I do not have the possibility to take classes, so I will continue on my own. I will try not to abandon these exercises. Today after realizing them, taking into account that there is no tension then, I achieved some improvement (at least my joints had come in hot, and I was better for the works that I am trying to play).
By the way, I reread my message and maybe it was misunderstood, what I meant about mediocrity is that. As for the piano. I did not even become mediocre. In other words, I play really badly. But, the idea is to improve.
A greeting and thanks again.

Pd: by the way you believe this video. The movement of the wrist should be so accented? Or depends on "school"?