How to develop your technique

1. Scales and arpeggios

Scales.

Playing scales helps develop speed, accuracy, and hand coordination. Play scales in all keys, starting with simple scales (C major) and gradually moving to more complex scales (B major, F sharp major).

Exercise:

• Start at a slow pace, gradually increasing your speed.
• Play scales in both hands simultaneously, synchronizing your movements.
• Try different articulations: legato, staccato.

Arpeggio

Arpeggios are divided chords played in sequence. They help develop finger flexibility and coordination.

Exercise:

• Start with simple triads (C-E-G), gradually adding more notes.
• Play arpeggios in different keys.
• Work on sound uniformity and clarity of each note.

2. Hanon and Cerny

Hanon and Cerny exercises are classic exercises for developing piano technique. They are aimed at strengthening finger muscles, developing independence and endurance.

Exercise:

• Do the exercises from the book "Hanon. Piano Exercises" every day.
• Follow the instructions for tempo and dynamics.
• Work on sound clarity and uniformity.

3. Technical studies

Etudes are pieces of music specifically designed to improve technical skills. Choose etudes that are appropriate for your level and focus on specific technical aspects (e.g., speed, chords, octaves).

Recommendations:

• Find sketches that interest you and meet your goals.
• Work on one sketch until you've mastered it, and then move on to the next.
• Perform etudes by various composers to broaden your technical and musical horizons.

4. Developing ear and musicality

Developing musicality and ear training is an integral part of learning to play the piano. Listen to music, analyze it by ear, sing melodies, and try playing them on the piano.

Exercise:

• Listen to different pieces of music and try to play them on the piano.
• Practice recognizing intervals and chords by ear.
• Sing the notes you play to develop your interval sense.

Conclusion.

Regularly practicing basic exercises will help you develop the technical skills and musicality you need to be successful on the piano. Remember that it's not just about practicing mechanically, but also about focusing on sound quality and musicality. Do these exercises every day and you will see significant progress in your playing.

I hope this article will be useful for pianists at any level of training. If you have additional questions or need clarification, please let me know!

Volodymyr Slakva, online piano teacher
You can also reach me on WhatsApp
Phone number: (+46) 0737820497
Email: slakva1983@gmail.com