Hanon for beginner

[martinn]

What is a sensible way to practice Hanon 1-30 ?
I have decided to use them mainly as a warm-up, a few a day.
At least I feel my finger control is better, I feel stronger and more supple. Is there a sensible way to practice Hanon for a beginner ?

[martinn]

Is Hanon so infected ? Not any new points of view ?

The reason I am asking, is that my teacher thinks it is appropriate for beginners. And I must handle this without being rude.

[brogers70]

If your teacher thinks Hanon is appropriate and shows you how to practice them usefully, then where's the problem? You want to work on them and your teacher thinks it's appropriate. So why not?

[martinn]

If your teacher thinks Hanon is appropriate and shows you how to practice them usefully, then where's the problem? You want to work on them and your teacher thinks it's appropriate. So why not?

Yes, that is exactly how my strategy is now. But all the negative, completely dissing opinions ?

[brogers70]

Yes, that is exactly how my strategy is now. But all the negative, completely dissing opinions ?

I'd say that most of the "negative, completely dissing opinions" have to do with taking Hanon's Preface at face value and assuming that simply playing through all the exercises over and over without any guidance from a teacher will turn you into a virtuoso. Or the complaint that the exercises are musically boring - but surely they are no more boring than scales and arpeggios, and scales and arpeggios are very useful if you practice them thoughtfully and preferably with a teacher's assistance.

So go work on Hanon with your teacher. After a month or two decide whether you think it has been helpful.

[martinn]

I'd say that most of the "negative, completely dissing opinions" have to do with taking Hanon's Preface at face value and assuming that simply playing through all the exercises over and over without any guidance from a teacher will turn you into a virtuoso. Or the complaint that the exercises are musically boring - but surely they are no more boring than scales and arpeggios, and scales and arpeggios are very useful if you practice them thoughtfully and preferably with a teacher's assistance.

So go work on Hanon with your teacher. After a month or two decide whether you think it has been helpful.

Thanks, that’s needed courage and explanation. I’m satisfied.

[klavieronin]

I used Hanon in the beginning (first 20 exercises only) and found them quite useful for developing agility. I eventually abandoned them if favour of Czerny though because I just got tired of the repetition and felt I could get the same benifit from Czerny with a little more musical interest. I don't think there is any harm in studying them if you want to or your teacher has suggested them.

[counterpoint]

The reason why Hanon Etudes are bad?
Because they are boring!
If you don't mind just play them as long as you want.

[geopianoincanada]

My teacher has me warming up on Czerny instead of Hanon as well as contrary motion minor scales, then going on to Etudes. If you trust your teacher then listening to their advice ought not to be a problem.

[martinn]

My teacher has me warming up on Czerny instead of Hanon as well as contrary motion minor scales, then going on to Etudes. If you trust your teacher then listening to their advice ought not to be a problem.

Yes, would you be a little wondering if your teacher insisted on Hanon ? There are some problems with blindly trusting a teacher always. Today differing opinions are everywhere.

[brogers70]

Yes, would you be a little wondering if your teacher insisted on Hanon ? There are some problems with blindly trusting a teacher always. Today differing opinions are everywhere.

Differing opinions are everywhere. That's for sure. Differing ways of saying the same thing are everywhere. And contradictory advice is everywhere - and yet often the contradictory advice is all good, but only for a subset of people. When you are just starting, it's hard to know. You just have to follow your gut about your teacher - if you trust them, try doing what they say, and don't roam the internet looking for other advice.

It's only been a week since you first asked the question. If Hanon is going to be helpful to you, you'll have to stick with it and follow the teachers advice for a couple of months before it becomes clear whether it is helping or not. I'd say be patient and stick with it until you have your own direct evidence as to whether it is working for you.

[lostinidlewonder]

Czerny is utterly different to Hanon. All beginners should have some experience with Hanon, that doesn't mean you have to do a whole heap of them but a good teacher will be able to direct your attention to a few which will help develop your less experienced fingers. Personally I have never subjected my students to 30 Hanon, I think that is a little over the top but a rare few of my students in the past have enjoyed them and gone ahead and learned more on their own. In any case all pianists should be able to do any of the exercises without any problems at all, so if you find one which challenges you then you should actually ponder what is hindering you there.

[martinn]

Czerny is utterly different to Hanon. All beginners should have some experience with Hanon, that doesn't mean you have to do a whole heap of them but a good teacher will be able to direct your attention to a few which will help develop your less experienced fingers. Personally I have never subjected my students to 30 Hanon, I think that is a little over the top but a rare few of my students in the past have enjoyed them and gone ahead and learned more on their own. In any case all pianists should be able to do any of the exercises without any problems at all, so if you find one which challenges you then you should actually ponder what is hindering you there.

Big thanks ! Yes, I will do Hanon for some time, but maybe I am not going to use all energy for just that.

[anacrusis]

Hanon, viewed as a collection of patterns you can play to exercise and develop control over your fingers are neither inherently good or bad. The issue is how you do them. Mindlessly with lots of tension? Probably bad. Or mindfully, with a focus on ergonomic, safe, relaxed movements, and only for as long as you can fully concentrate? Probably useful.

[martinn]

Hanon, viewed as a collection of patterns you can play to exercise and develop control over your fingers are neither inherently good or bad. The issue is how you do them. Mindlessly with lots of tension? Probably bad. Or mindfully, with a focus on ergonomic, safe, relaxed movements, and only for as long as you can fully concentrate? Probably useful.

Yes, I don’t overdo my Hanon, I think. But it is quite ’strengthening’ for the left hand and fingers 4 and 5. However, I am a bit concerned that my left hand is not learning so fast from right hand, like Chang suggested in his book about playing patterns separately with the right hand and left hand. I am playing Hanon HT, hoping for advancement.