Technical Skills

[doug]

I've also started reteaching myself the piano after a long hiatus.  Since I don't have a teacher this time around, I'm trying to be extra careful with focusing on my technical skills.  Does anyone have advie on how to do this?

[xvimbi]

In short, I would recommend you get a teacher.

[Bob]

Tell us more.

What level are you at?

What do you mean "extra careful" and "focusing on my technical skills?"  Do you want to do a lot of exercises to build up your technique?

[doug]

I'm at about a grade 5 -->6 level.  You are exactly right too.  I'm trying to build up my technique, speed, and overall knowledge of theory.

[xvimbi]

I'm at about a grade 5 -->6 level.  You are exactly right too.  I'm trying to build up my technique, speed, and overall knowledge of theory.

My recommendation: play as much Bach and Scarlatti as you can. This will accomplish everything you mentioned, and you will build repertoire at the same time. Forget about exercises like Hanon or Czerny. J.S. Bach's Notebooks for Friedrich Wilhelm and Magdalena Bach, the Well-Tempered Clavier, and the 2- and 3-part Inventions are in fact exercises/studies. Mentioning this is important for those, who want to do "exercises". Of course, you need to like Bach, but anybody who is willing to do Hanon should be more than willing to play Bach. However, the most important part in the equation is a knowledgeable teacher. There is simply no other way to make the fastest progress.

[ujos3]

I think Bach (for example, 2-3 inventions) will help you mostly in hand coordination and understanding of music .
But if you want to develop technique (strength, speed, wrists, weak fingers, stretches, etc. ) with fast results, try playing Hanon for a while, mostly his part three, but also some of part I and II.

However, you will see that many people in this forum will tell you doing Hanon is a stupid thing.

Javier

[jazzyprof]

I think Bach (for example, 2-3 inventions) will help you mostly in hand coordination and understanding of music .
But if you want to develop technique...

Coordination is technique.

[xvimbi]

Coordination is technique.

And technique is nothing else than coordination!