Piano/Keyboard Exercises...

Chords, scales, harmony, melody, etc.
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:)
Thanks very much TB.
Looks clean and well executed to me.I was not aware of the thumb over technique which I will now try !
Philip

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The best thing is that there is far more potential with this technique than I am able to demonstrate. I expect that with practice I will be able to make this scale more even and significantly faster aswell, while remaining effortless and economical.

Its difficult to explain, but the bottom line is that you want have your fingers out of the way and in the next position as the thumb plays.

TB

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The thumb over technique also works really well for arpeggios, too. And really, it's based on a principle of movement that, when applied to all of your playing, gives a lot of benefits! (more endurance, ability to play faster and cleaner, and also more flexibility with what notes you play--which is especially important in Jazz, where you need to be able to play whatever comes to your ear on the spur of the moment)
Greg Schlaepfer
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just a quick update, i've been doin hanon exercises for about a two weeks and major chord scales - i have already noticed a HUGE difference. thought i would throw that up there.. thanx for the input. :D

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Glad you are having some success!

Just be careful not to work to hard on the Hanon... tension is a bad sign and can result in injury.

TB

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Hey, TB,

Thanks so much for your input here.

I gotta say that I am one of the "Hanon victims" meaning that it actually hurt my hands and turned me off of piano, though I recently started practicing again.

I am a guitarist, mostly, of 25 years and studied a semester of music in college (classical guitar), but with the advent of DAW work, obviously keyboard skills are where it's at to be able to program MIDI stuff productively.

I used to teach guitar and know the learning process, and yes, there are lots of technique exercises that are really beneficial and sometimes necessary (I used to teach the 80's speed licks, etc.)...

BUT...

This is NOT where to start. It'll do more harm then good not as much on the hands, but the mental state of the person who isn't making any *musical* progress though is putting out gobs of effort physically.

I started playing piano (well, practicing - still new at it) again only about two weeks ago and that's only after I started on "musicality" practice, instead of balls to the wall technique.

Sounds stupid, but I got a blues piano DVD and a couple of New Age piano tutorials and the interest factor alone is making me go forward and make music at the same time.

The REALLY funny thing is - and I should have remembered this when I was learning guitar 20 or so years ago - that I'm NOT doing any technique practice per se, but my technique is getting better, and more than just marginally.

Fingerings are easier and faster, and not just stuff that I practice, too, but all-around. Chord changes, again, with stuff I haven't even worked on, are faster and easier.

This was quite a surprise to me. I am used to it on the guitar, where one pattern/position/fingering is the same or moved up and down the neck, but on the piano/kb the memorization/patterns are different for major triads in different keys, so I expected 12 different practice periods - one for each major key, etc.

But focusing on just the musicality aspect - especially with styles that you love and at your current level - is something that is making the most difference for me.

I had to abandon classical and jazz and go more blues and new age. Works the same with guitar. A G Major chord is a frickin' G Major chord in any style...but when we play ONLY the styles that we like at or a little above our level...it's almost a guarantee to make progress just out of both physical development and to come back because you loved it so much.

Just wanted to share some experiences...

And by the way, don't think you're too old. I am 37 and can't wait until I can belt out piano riffs in my sleep like I can with rock guitar ones...

;)

Take care, all, and have a super fantastic weekend!

- Paul

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PaulG wrote:Sounds stupid, but I got a blues piano DVD and a couple of New Age piano tutorials and the interest factor alone is making me go forward and make music at the same time.
Hey, Paul. What piano DVD and tutorials are you using? Links, maybe? Thanks.

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Chris,

"Beginning Blues Keyboard" by Tricia Woods - DVD

http://www.quiescencemusic.com - online subscription to New Age piano lessons.

Neither is something for an advanced player, but it's good exposure when you're first learning, especially when you've been turned off by strict "my way or the highway" teachers who've done more harm then good.

If you find any more like this...let me know!

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Paul, you might like this: http://www.playpianotoday.com/nfindex.html
I haven't purchased anything but the examples seem pretty good.

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