As an advanced piano student, you’re likely looking for ways to fine-tune your technique and expand your expressive capabilities. At this level, it’s crucial to target specific technical challenges with exercises that build finger strength, agility, and precision while also fostering musicality. Here, I present 10 recommended exercises to help advanced students reach new heights. To make your practice more effective, I’ve paired each exercise with a recommended book and explained how to incorporate these exercises into a weekly practice schedule. This article dives into the best advanced piano exercises to elevate your playing.
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1. Czerny’s School of Velocity (Op. 299)
- Focus: Speed, evenness, finger dexterity
- Description: These exercises are designed to increase velocity and control, focusing on fast passages and smooth execution. The scales, arpeggios, and intricate finger movements help develop independence in both hands.
- Recommended Book: The School of Velocity by Carl Czerny
- How to Practice: Include one exercise from Czerny’s School of Velocity daily, working on clean articulation at increasing speeds.
2. Isidor Philipp’s Complete School of Technic
- Focus: Finger independence and strength
- Description: Philipp’s exercises focus on refining finger control and hand independence through intricate finger patterns. These exercises are particularly effective for developing strength in weaker fingers (like the 4th and 5th) while maintaining fluidity.
- Recommended Book: The Complete School of Technic by Isidor Philipp
- How to Practice: After warming up, perform these exercises for 15-20 minutes. Focus on precise execution and smooth transitions between finger patterns.
3. Hanon Virtuoso Pianist (Advanced Exercises)
- Focus: Finger endurance and precision
- Description: Hanon’s exercises are staples for building endurance, especially at the advanced level, where you push the limits of speed and accuracy. These drills help achieve finger precision in fast passages.
- Recommended Book: The Virtuoso Pianist by Charles-Louis Hanon
- How to Practice: Play one or two exercises daily, increasing tempo each day while maintaining clarity.
4. Liszt Technical Exercises (Scales and Arpeggios)
- Focus: Mastery of scales and arpeggios in all keys
- Description: Liszt’s approach focuses on scales, arpeggios, and octave patterns, pushing technical boundaries while also fostering expressive playing. His exercises explore musical phrasing even in technical drills.
- Recommended Book: Technical Exercises by Franz Liszt
- How to Practice: Dedicate daily time to scales in major and minor keys, followed by arpeggios. Pay attention to consistency in tone across all registers.
5. Octave and Double-Note Studies (Isidor Philipp)
- Focus: Strength in octaves and double notes
- Description: These studies are essential for developing strength in playing octaves and double notes, which are often challenging due to the tension they create in the hands.
- Recommended Book: Complete School of Technic by Isidor Philipp
- How to Practice: Integrate these studies once a week, focusing on building stamina and smooth transitions between chords.
6. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (Prelude & Fugue Practice)
- Focus: Hand independence and voice leading
- Description: The preludes and fugues of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier are ideal for honing finger independence and improving understanding of counterpoint and voice leading.
- Recommended Book: The Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach
- How to Practice: Work on one prelude and fugue each week, paying close attention to clarity in each voice, especially during complex passages.
7. Chopin Etudes (Op. 10 and Op. 25)
- Focus: Musicality in technical execution
- Description: Chopin’s Etudes challenge technical abilities while also emphasizing musicality and expressive playing. They offer a bridge between technique and interpretation.
- Recommended Book: Chopin Etudes by Frédéric Chopin
- How to Practice: Focus on one etude for a few weeks, dissecting difficult passages for technical clarity while also working on phrasing and dynamics.
8. Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes (Op. 13)
- Focus: Complex rhythms and technical precision
- Description: These etudes challenge the pianist with intricate rhythms, technical challenges, and the need for refined musicality. They are excellent for pushing boundaries of both technique and interpretation.
- Recommended Book: Symphonic Etudes by Robert Schumann
- How to Practice: Work on these etudes in sections, gradually increasing your focus on rhythmic precision and expressive detail.
9. Brahms 51 Exercises
- Focus: Finger independence, control, and phrasing
- Description: Brahms’ 51 Exercises are focused on finger independence and strengthening. These exercises push students to develop fine motor control, articulation, and phrasing across a variety of finger combinations.
- Recommended Book: 51 Exercises by Johannes Brahms
- How to Practice: Tackle one or two exercises each week, gradually working up to more complex finger combinations. Ensure evenness in touch and sound production.
10. Scriabin Etudes (Op. 8, Op. 42)
- Focus: Expansive technical skill and interpretative depth
- Description: Scriabin’s etudes are great for advanced students who want to develop both technique and interpretative richness. These etudes challenge pianists with rapid passages, complex rhythms, and delicate textures.
- Recommended Book: Scriabin Etudes by Alexander Scriabin
- How to Practice: Break each etude into smaller sections, working on technical execution in one session and musical phrasing in another.
Weekly Practice Schedule
Here’s a suggested schedule that balances these exercises across your practice routine:
- Monday: Czerny’s School of Velocity (10 min), Philipp’s Technic Exercises (20 min), Chopin Etude (30 min)
- Tuesday: Hanon (10 min), Liszt Scales and Arpeggios (20 min), Bach Prelude and Fugue (30 min)
- Wednesday: Czerny School of Velocity (10 min), Philipp’s Octave Studies (20 min), Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes (30 min)
- Thursday: Hanon (10 min), Brahms 51 Exercises (30 min), Chopin Etude (30 min)
- Friday: Czerny School of Velocity (10 min), Scriabin Etudes (30 min), Liszt Arpeggios (30 min)
- Saturday: Focused review of challenging sections from the week and any etudes or studies needing additional attention.
- Sunday: Rest or light practice to keep fingers agile.
Conclusion
By incorporating these advanced exercises into your weekly routine, you’ll target critical aspects of piano technique while growing as a musician. Books like The School of Velocity and The Complete School of Technic are excellent resources to guide your practice, helping you to refine your technical abilities and expressiveness. With dedication and thoughtful practice, you’ll see tremendous progress in your playing.
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