EXERCISE & EXCELLENCE – Train for a Marathon
Would you run the comrades marathon if you had not trained beforehand? This is exactly what students expect their fingers to do when they practice only one piece without doing anything else. Finger exercises are as important for pianists as physical exercises and strength training are for athletes. Your child’s fingers are not going to respond well if all they play is the same 3 pieces for 9 months because they need those pieces for the exam.
Exercises are necessary for strength training, agility, and finger independence, which leads to musical excellence. There is not enough time in the lesson to cover everything, and students have to take the initiative to work alone as well. Pizza is an excellent exercise which all students should be doing as it evens out the fingers and the brain; it is vital to play scales and arpeggios daily; but those are not the only exercises. There are a number of very good exercises available at various levels.
All Levels
Piano Adventures’ Technique & Artistry books should NEVER be neglected, even once the student has finished the book. The techniques discussed at each level can NOT be learnt in a few weeks, or a few months. It is an ongoing process, and each student has to practice and apply the techniques in all subsequent work. This applies equally to the Technique Videos provided in the Student Portal.
Grade 4 and upwards
Czerny composed a wide selection of exercises at varying levels. Czerny creates pretty little exercises which are musical and therefore more enjoyable though more demanding. Find them here as a free download.
Additional Repertoire
Remember that the more your child is exposed to music, the better and faster they will grow. This not only includes taking them to lessons, to concerts, but also providing suitable repertoire. Have you asked your child what they would like to play? It doesn’t matter if its nursery rhymes or pop music, but it’s something they can enjoy apart from the music they do in their lessons and daily practice.
The book you choose should not be difficult. If your child knows the songs in the book, all the better. They will build their confidence by discovering that they can read and perform music on their own, for their own enjoyment.
In these ‘fun’ books they can also break all the rules, like writing in the letter names of the notes (I know some students will love that feature). They can also learn how to play the songs they love to sing, and music becomes, not just another school subject, but something they love and can enjoy because they understand it better and better.
A great start are the Popular Repertoire, Disney & Hits! books by Faber.
