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H**N
Serious exercises for serious pianists
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.
G**D
difficult but doing their job
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
W**G
best basic technique book
Once mastered these provide the very best basic technique for the aspiring serious pianist.
F**.
Very good, but not for the feint hearted!
I am using this book to return to playing the piano. Many of the exercises are quite challenging and help to strengthen your fingers.
S**W
I was recommended these exercises as a 'returning' pianists
I was recommended these exercises as a 'returning' pianists, so far am still battling with it and will do so for some time yet but do find it useful for reluctant fingers!
G**O
Excellent
Exercises for different grades. Helps to strenghten fingers.
C**L
These exercises are not for the faint hearted. Very ...
These exercises are not for the faint hearted. Very challenging - be careful not to hurt yourself and go slowly at first.
S**Y
Great!
Great exercises - very challenging and thorough, despite being a very small collection.
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