Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum A Hanon challenge anyone?

Just wondering if anyone would be keen to tackle a Hanon a week? We could start at exercise 1 and continue at least to say exercise 20. For those who are able, it would be great to post a weekly recording of the exercise to make sure they are getting completed.
I believe the exercises are available free online...so there's no excuse not to take the challenge!!!!

Link to Hanon:
http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/single_listing.cfm?composer_id=7

You may download only 2 items per day.

The first 20 exercises are in the third link from the bottom in Ina's link, "The Virtuouso Pianist, Part 1".

Stephen, this is a great idea.

Mel

Great idea! I've been using 1-3 as warmups lately so this will give me some incentive to push forward through the others. Count me in!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to send recordings. I'm planning on getting a Zoom sometime in the future but don't have any way of recording now. You'll just have to trust me

I've been meaning to work through my Hanon regularly, so I'm in.

Count me in. I KNOW I should be doing Hanon, but I just can't bring myself to do it on a regular basis. :rolleyes:

One a week sounds perfect, and I would be willing to record even though I won the "worst recording ever" on the last recital.


So when do we start??

Maybe, since the first day of the year falls on a Monday, we could start this today and then record (if we want on Sunday)...just a suggestion.

Kathleen

I'm up for anything!
I confess i've been working on 1-14 but stopped after that. This will help me get back on track.
yeah, when do we start

Matt

I'm going to start today. I HAVE to get both hands playing #1. Right now, I am only concentrating on my left hand, since it is pretty weak (pinched nerve), but that's not an excuse.

Hey, everyone...let's start!! OK?

A question, what speed should we be shooting for? Or does it matter. Do we need to play at the tempo indicated? If so, I'm a goner!!


Kathleen

I don't think there should be a set tempo for us all.
Instead of targeting speed, I think a smooth, even performance is a better terget instead of a particular speed.

And they're off!

I'm starting today.

As far as tempo, I don't think it matters. Although I do play them at the indicated tempo, I think the point is to build flexibility and strength so playing with both hands and playing smoothly is more important (I think) than trying to fly through them and as a result play them poorly.

I generally start slowly focusing on correctness and then build speed as they become more familiar and my fingers have adapted to whatever technique the particular exercise requires.

Just a thought - Hanon is not necessarily at its most useful if you work through the exercises sequentially. You may well find that dipping into some of the more involved exercises at the back of the book, as well as some of the early ones will bring your playing on far more rapidly. Especially some of the octave work.

I got distracted from Hanon while trying to learn to play Christmas Carols.

I'm in!

C7: I agree that evenness is more important than speed, but that the speed will pick up the more you play.

Also, AJB, you do have a point about skipping to the back every so often to find an exercise that might help you play the piece you are learning.

But, I am like a horse with blinders. I have to go full speed ahead...and stick to each lesson, one after another...if not, I'll get off track and will probably quit. But if it works for other people, I say: Go for it.

Just think...we can post ourselves playing Hanon exercises. I'm sure everyone in the forum will be avid with excitement, waiting to listen.

Kathleen

Ok, great enthusiasm guys. I to worked through about 1 -7 and then couldn't find more motivation to continue, so I can't wait to continue the venture. The best thing about Hanon is that the exercises are not rocket science,anyone can play them, and once you know the first you have the fundamentals for many that follow.

And after a while you don't need to think while playing them, they just make your hands strong and fingers nimble which is what I am hoping to get from them - I'd prefer to put all my concentration into actual pieces.

So, yes I agree, lets start today - I'll post a seperate thread ach week with a list of participants and, if they have recorded, a tick of approval next to their name as indication of pasing the exercise - others who don't post just need let us know and we'll trust that they have indeed passed!!

I agree about the tempo, certainly Hanon is made to be played fast eventually, but I say just play them at a comfortable tempo for now and concentrate on even and correct fingering on both hands. Good lUck!!

Include me -- I welcome anything that will provide motivation.

Hi, count me in too. Sounds like a great idea. I can't record yet though... everyone will have to trust me LOL

Add me to your list also. I love to be accountable when I might not otherwise get to something like this.

Nancy

Someone once suggested I play these exercises with my eyes shut (or at least not looking at the music or the keyboard).

I've tried it and I like it. It really makes your fingers find the keys before plunking down on them. A way to strengthen your fingers and also improve your "touch."

Kathleen

As my Hanon copy has not been too much used so far, I would like to join you.
Please don't expect me to post any recordings (my ears just hate Hanon, though my fingers like him )

Ragnhild

I'm In!