how to practice piano technique and theory properly

[fairy211]

Hello dear fellow members!
I am self taught and can play RCM grade 3 pieces at slow speed. I dedicate 2 hours each day for practice but have not yet worked on my finger technique. Is there more besides posture that I need to work on? What is the benefit of music theory that is listed in the RCM grades?

How would I ideally go about to work on my finger technique and more? Practicing scales for warmup and alternating two notes with adjacent or distant fingers? I can currently play moderately well with going over and under (is it called like this?) my hand both left and right. My left hand is a bit weaker in terms of dexterity.

Can you link me material to study?

Many thanks!

[iamdopeuarenope]

Hanon
Czerny Op 599, when you finish that Czerny Op 849
For hanon I suggest practicing it legato and stacatto

[pianistavt]

Hello dear fellow members!
I am self taught

Since you're a beginner, it's a really good idea to work with a piano teacher, you'll make much better progress and avoid doing things incorrectly and getting into bad habits.  Is this not possible? 

Aside from that - as the above poster said, Hanon "The Virtuoso Pianist" is a place most every piano student starts for developing finger technique - those first 20 exercises, scales in all keys, arpeggios in all keys, octaves, and all the other exercises.  Czerny op 599 is also a good recommendation.

[fairy211]

thanks both of you! I will contact a piano teacher and ask for lessons!
One more question - I can play grade 3 pieces at slow speed with both hands. Should I do this (it is more entertaining because the music sounds nicer) so I can focus a bit better I believe. Or should I play the right hand then the left hand then both hands together?

[pianistavt]

thanks both of you! I will contact a piano teacher and ask for lessons!
One more question - I can play grade 3 pieces at slow speed with both hands. Should I do this (it is more entertaining because the music sounds nicer) so I can focus a bit better I believe. Or should I play the right hand then the left hand then both hands together?

It's a standard method of learning and perfecting a piece to practice each hand alone, as well as play them together.  You'll learn this and other practice methods from a good piano teacher.  Make sure you find a good one!

[transitional]

thanks both of you! I will contact a piano teacher and ask for lessons!
One more question - I can play grade 3 pieces at slow speed with both hands. Should I do this (it is more entertaining because the music sounds nicer) so I can focus a bit better I believe. Or should I play the right hand then the left hand then both hands together?

Both. Find a happy medium where you can enjoy the music and practice it properly. Sometimes it's good to find a book below your level to sightread or improvise. But you can definitely enjoy the music both hands together eventually as long as you practice it right initially.

[pianocavs]

Hello dear fellow members!
I am self taught and can play RCM grade 3 pieces at slow speed. I dedicate 2 hours each day for practice but have not yet worked on my finger technique. Is there more besides posture that I need to work on? What is the benefit of music theory that is listed in the RCM grades?

How would I ideally go about to work on my finger technique and more? Practicing scales for warmup and alternating two notes with adjacent or distant fingers? I can currently play moderately well with going over and under (is it called like this?) my hand both left and right. My left hand is a bit weaker in terms of dexterity.

Can you link me material to study?

Many thanks!

Hello!

Assuming that all fingers have sufficient strength, agility and independence, it is worth seeking simplification, efficiency and confidence of movements.

To achieve them, try different combinations of fingers to play a sequence of notes until you find the most direct, simple and efficient one.

It is useful to identify the direction of the movements, changes in that direction, the figures that form chords, arpeggios or melodic sequences, jumps, repetitions, etc.

A free e-book that could be useful because it develops some of these concepts and compiles the basic elements of Music Theory can be downloaded from the following page:

https://piano-maps.com/libro-book-download

The best for you.

[pianocavs]

Hello!

Assuming that all fingers have sufficient strength, agility and independence, it is worth seeking simplification, efficiency and confidence of movements.

To achieve them, try different combinations of fingers to play a sequence of notes until you find the most direct, simple and efficient one.

It is useful to identify the direction of the movements, changes in that direction, the figures that form chords, arpeggios or melodic sequences, jumps, repetitions, etc.

A free e-book that could be useful because it develops some of these concepts and compiles the basic elements of Music Theory can be downloaded from the following page:

https://piano-maps.com/libro-book-download

The best for you.

To practice fingering efficiency, may I suggest trying Mozart's Sonata No. 11 in A major.
Try different fingerings until you find the most efficient one.
The one that minimizes the movements and displacements of the fingers and hands.

[geopianoincanada]

When I picked up piano back in 2018 after a nearly 20 year time away, I thought I could resume at a DIY pace. All I ended up doing was remembering how to do things incorrectly.

The best money I ever spent was in hiring a teacher who could guide me through the myriad details which only a teacher sitting beside you could guide you through.