Essential Finger Exercises: Piano

Just got this today. I'm very optimistic about the exercises in this book because I got it primarily to help with the 4th/5th finger problem. The book is only 50 pages. I'm right handed and can barely do the beginning exercises with my right hand. With my left hand, even less. Even tho I'm not a hand surgeon, what that implies to me is that these exercises really put the pressure where it should be to help with strength and independence of the fingers. I look at this as a real challenge and am quite optimistic with respect to hoped for results.

Great piano book - fast shipping!

Fantastic! The exercises really work, have been doing them daily for 5-10 minutes / day for 2 weeks and the results in agility and control are noticeable!

I received the book quickly, it was what I wanted, and it is an excellent collection of piano techniques

I don't think that you need them all at once, but pick and choose those that you need the most. You'll be glad that you did.

These exercises are harder than you’d think! Lol Book came in good time and in good condition.

These finger exercises are very hard but quite worth it. The first couple of weeks will be very difficult and you will feel like you are not getting anywhere. Whereas many technique books work on the development of purely technical skills, the focus of these exercises is to develop a full independence of all fingers in both hands.

Perfect

It starts with a short essay by the author in which he says most piano exercises are a waste of time - you would be better off making sure you practise in an effective way and do it on pieces you want to play. He recommends studies by Cramer and Bertini for beginners and, later, a selection from Clementi's gradus. Everything else he says, with specific reference to Czerny, is superfluous.The exercises themselves are very awkward. He has spent hours concocting every possible awkward combination of finger movements a pianist might need and distilling them into 42 ruthless pages. Unlike many piano exercises, it does not sound like a piece of boring piano music - it doesn't sound like music at all. It sounds like an exercise. if you suggested he put in a few chords or accompaniment to make it sound more interesting, I am sure he would be appalled (Perhaps this is why he doesn't like Czerny).I agree with him. I have used Czerny, Hanon and Joseffy according to the taste of different teachers and quickly felt I was better off developing my technique on Beethoven. I don't promise I am going to spend a lot of time on these but if I do any exercises these are the ones I will do. They are a serious workout. Be careful you don't injure yourself though.

these exercises are very difficult. even those under the "easy" category take lots of brain power and coordination. these exercises are very different to most others I have seen like Czerny and Hanon, as they do not sound like boring, basic piano pieces, but instead like someone's tuning the piano and repeatedly tapping the keys or something. there are only 42 exercises but they will keep any advanced pianist "entertained" for a long time (especially considering Dohnanyi says to practice them in different keys) 5 stars as I cannot fault anything about the book, maybe if i'm being picky it would be nice to have seen the difficulty number by the exercise itself rather than tucked away in the foreword. but great exercises nonetheless

Exercises for different grades. Helps to strenghten fingers.

These exercises are not for the faint hearted. Very challenging - be careful not to hurt yourself and go slowly at first.

I am using this book to return to playing the piano. Many of the exercises are quite challenging and help to strengthen your fingers.