Building a practice regimen

[m1kes_]

So, I'm currently studying at a conservatoire and I would like to apply to college at the end of the next academic course.

I have been talking with my teacher about it and she said that I should start with a serious technique regimen. Right now, I started with Pischna which she suggested. She said that I should aim to do at least 30min of technique everyday.

In the past I have done Hanon and Herz exercises.

My "problems" right now are finger indepence (specifically articulation) and voicing of the 4/5 fingers in the right hand.

What études / exercises or anything else do you know that I could add to my technique regimen?

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot in advance.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

 Depending on how far along you are, that might not even be an option. If can you mention some of the pieces you've played, and maybe post some recordings of them in the audition room, it would give us a much better idea of what would be reasonable to recommend.
For example, the best piece for developing the fourth/fifth fingers in the right hand is (to my knowledge) probably Chopin's op. 10 no. 2, which might not be an option if you aren't able to play most of the Chopin Etudes. Another example is 10/4 for hand independence, but that might be a bad fit for your current skills.
Based on your statements, I'd guess these would be too difficult for you. However, I don't know what you're capable of, so I can't make good recommendations.
Once you've had some pieces recommended, you should ask your teacher about them. It's very likely she knows more about what you're capable of and what your limits are than any of us.

[m1kes_]

Depending on how far along you are, that might not even be an option. If can you mention some of the pieces you've played, and maybe post some recordings of them in the audition room, it would give us a much better idea of what would be reasonable to recommend.
For example, the best piece for developing the fourth/fifth fingers in the right hand is (to my knowledge) probably Chopin's op. 10 no. 2, which might not be an option if you aren't able to play most of the Chopin Etudes. Another example is 10/4 for hand independence, but that might be a bad fit for your current skills.
Based on your statements, I'd guess these would be too difficult for you. However, I don't know what you're capable of, so I can't make good recommendations.
Once you've had some pieces recommended, you should ask your teacher about them. It's very likely she knows more about what you're capable of and what your limits are than any of us.

Yeah, I guess but I'm pretty sure there's lots of options that can be under that level off difficulty which may help.

The latest pieces which I have presented in exams are:

Rachmaninoff C-Sharp Minor Prélude Op.3 No.2
Czerny Op.740 No.50
Chopin Polonaise in A Major Op.40 No.1
Bach Prelude and Fugue in D Major 850
Bach Prelude and Fugue in D Minor 851

[pianistavt]

Czerny Op.740 No.50

This one is not easy - how did it go?  Can you post a recording?
It's good for 4th / 5th finger, of RH at least.  Czerny tends to over emphasize the RH to the neglect of LH in Op 740.
I would continue to play more from Op 740, assuming you have the entire set, make sure you choose some that focus on LH.  If you can get close to the indicated mm, you'll be developing your technique just fine...
You could add some of the easier Chopin etudes for variety.  There's lots of information online about the order of difficulty.
I prefer etudes (Czerny, Chopin) over exercises (Brahms, Dohnanyi, Pischna, Hanon) but make sure you can play scales, arpeggios and octave scales well.

[ranjit]

My personal view is that at your level, it doesn't matter what technical exercises you play. You need to try to directly work on remediating aspects of your technique and figuring out efficient ways to move.

If your fourth and fifth fingers are weak, figure out how to work on those. Remember that a lot of strength (maybe even most) is neuromuscular and not raw finger power. You should train to hold the weight of your arm under fingers 4 and 5 while keeping a stable knuckle bridge -- at least, that is what is commonly done.



I would think about technique explicitly, at least to some extent, like in this video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vM1hQr9UR7Y&pp=ygURMTYgdHlwZXMgb2YgcGlhbm8%3D

I have seen some university music students practice, say Chopin Etude op 10 no 2, and they practice assiduously but don't really improve all that much. And it's because you need to know exactly what to improve and how. Ideally a piano teacher would guide you with that but unfortunately many don't. Take lessons with multiple teachers if you have to, research on your own if you have to until you make those breakthroughs.

Unless you naturally have a very good technique for specific demands it won't just automatically improve with practice. It doesn't matter what exercises you do. Exercises can only isolate a specific demand, not teach you to overcome it.

[stringoverstrung]

What études / exercises or anything else do you know that I could add to my technique regimen?

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot in advance.

Best Option: Scarlatti sonatas will do the trick. For an example on how this can sound:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud0a8O1o9NY 

at minute 9:09 -> for example from 9:21 right hand that is technique.
Studies: Brahms 51 etudes e.g. nr 38a. (supple please!)
Wieck (Father of Clara Wieck) has nice etudes (a little easier than Brahms).
Have you considered how you can abuse the purpose of every etude in Hanon? I am by no means an expert but there is for example a concise explanation by  G. Fitch in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFjz_O9TUSA

 The exercise in this video at 5:30 can work.

My opinion is that you should probably stay away from Hanon. Scarlatti is great music and will bring you more musical and technical value. your teacher can suggest a few or if you let me know what type you like even I can suggest a few Sonatas (555 to choose from).

PS: Watch out with the Brahms if you have small hand a lot of stretching involved.
You should not be discouraged if the Brahms does not go well this is very difficult stuff (at least for normal people like me).

Do it mindfully and also regularly practice very very slow ...  you give time to your hand to figure out how your wrist should move in conjunction with your fingers.
You should not go for irrealistic or physically impossible objectives like some pianists tried in the 19th century (Make a "Strong and independent 4th finger"). Forget "Strength" literally etc. Read about how to organize your hand in the piano technique literature. If you want I can give tips on what to read. It helps a lot if you already have a certain level -  which you obviously do have - so that you understand what is being explained.

Regards,
Gert