Have you been wondering the best piano exercises for intermediate students? I’ve got you covered!
As an intermediate piano student, it’s important to incorporate exercises to help you build foundational skills, refine technique, and expand your repertoire. Here are ten recommended piano exercises that intermediate students can include in their weekly practice routines, descriptions of each, suggested reference books, and advice on integrating these exercises into your practice schedule.
Azure Hills Music contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you when you purchase using one of these Amazon links. Read our disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.
10 Best Intermediate Piano Exercises
1. Scales in All Keys
Description: Scales are fundamental to piano playing. Students should practice all major and minor scales in both hands at the intermediate level, focusing on different rhythmic patterns and articulations (e.g., legato, staccato). Aim for precision in fingerings and smoothness between hand transitions.
How to Use: Practice scales for 10-15 minutes at the beginning of each practice session. Rotate through major and minor scales daily to cover all keys during the week.
Recommended Book:
2. Arpeggios in All Inversions
Description: Arpeggios strengthen your ability to navigate the keyboard fluidly. Practice arpeggios in major and minor keys, with both hands playing together, focusing on evenness and smooth transitions through fingerings.
How to Use: After scales, spend 10 minutes on arpeggios. Cycle through major, minor, diminished, and dominant seventh arpeggios in different inversions throughout the week.
Recommended Book:
3. Broken Chord Patterns
Description: Broken chords help with finger independence and hand coordination. Practice broken chords in triads and seventh chords, ascending and descending, emphasizing even articulation and rhythmic accuracy.
How to Use: Include this in 10-minute segments 2-3 times a week, alternating between different chord progressions and keys.
Recommended Book:
4. Hanon Exercises for Finger Strength
Description: Hanon exercises are excellent for building finger strength, agility, and endurance. Intermediate students should focus on the first 20 exercises, which target finger independence and dexterity.
How to Use: Dedicate 15 minutes daily to working through different Hanon exercises. Increase the tempo as you progress for a greater challenge.
Recommended Book: “Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist,” especially Part I.
5. Contrary Motion Scales
Description: Practicing scales in contrary motion develops hand independence and coordination. Both hands move in opposite directions, playing the same scale, which trains the brain to multitask effectively.
How to Use: Practice contrary motion scales for 5-10 minutes every other day, focusing on maintaining consistent speed and articulation in both hands.
Recommended Book:
6. Finger Independence Drills
Description: Exercises like holding down certain fingers while playing others (e.g., holding down the thumb while playing legato with other fingers) help improve finger independence and control. These drills target weak fingers and improve overall hand flexibility.
How to Use: Spend 5 minutes daily working through these exercises. Focus on slow, controlled movements for the best results.
Recommended Book:
7. Chord Progression Practice
Description: Intermediate students should practice common chord progressions (e.g., I-IV-V-I) in all keys. This helps with understanding harmonic structure and prepares students for more advanced repertoire.
How to Use: Dedicate 10 minutes of each session to practicing chord progressions in different keys. Try applying them in different rhythmic patterns for variety.
Recommended Book:
8. Octave Scales and Arpeggios
Description: Practicing scales and arpeggios in octaves helps develop hand coordination and strength, especially when playing a more advanced repertoire. Focus on maintaining accuracy and evenness.
How to Use: Include this for 5-10 minutes 3-4 times weekly. Start slowly, then gradually increase speed as accuracy improves.
Recommended Book:
9. Trill Exercises
Description: Trills are essential for playing more expressive pieces. Practice alternating between two notes rapidly to build finger strength, especially with weaker fingers (e.g., 3-4 and 4-5).
How to Use: Work on trills for 5 minutes daily. Start with slow trills, gradually increasing speed and endurance over time.
Recommended Book:
10. Sight-Reading Practice
Description: Sight-reading improves your ability to learn new pieces quickly. Choose a new piece of intermediate-level music daily and read through it without stopping. Focus on keeping a steady tempo.
Recommended Book: “Improve Your Sight-Reading! Piano, Level 4” by Paul Harris.
How to Use: Dedicate 10-15 minutes daily to sight-reading new material. This will improve your ability to recognize patterns and transitions in new music.
Recommended Book:
Weekly Practice Schedule
Day 1-3:
- Scales in All Keys: 15 minutes
- Arpeggios in All Inversions: 10 minutes
- Hanon Exercises for Finger Strength: 15 minutes
- Contrary Motion Scales: 5-10 minutes
- Finger Independence Drills: 5 minutes
- Sight-Reading Practice: 10-15 minutes
Day 4-6:
Sight-Reading Practice: 10-15 minutes
Broken Chord Patterns: 10 minutes
Chord Progression Practice: 10 minutes
Octave Scales and Arpeggios: 5-10 minutes
Trill Exercises: 5 minutes
Finger Independence Drills: 5 minutes
Final Thoughts: Intermediate Piano Exercises
By following this structured practice routine and incorporating these exercises, intermediate students can improve their technical skills, dexterity, and overall musicality. Consistency is key, so aim to practice regularly and with intention!
Happy practicing with piano exercises for intermediate students!
Arthur Dobrucki
#pianoexercises
Read More:
Beginner Piano Exercises – Essential Exercises To Get Started