Using Technical Exercises and Studies - Interactive Workshop (Part 1)

13 Mar 2021 @ 13:00 GMT

Exercises and studies can be useful for technical development in addition to warming us up and keeping us in shape pianistically. The important thing is to know how to do them properly to avoid tension and injury, and to keep a healthy balance between pure technical work and the practice of repertoire.

In these interactive workshops, Graham Fitch shows how several technical exercises and studies can be used most effectively. The workshops follow a hands-on format with demonstrations of exercises interspersed with short-supervised breakout sessions for you to try them out.

Workshop Content

The workshop is divided into two parts. The first part focusses on technical foundations and elementary studies and exercises, including:

• The difference between an exercise and a study
• Finding the ideal hand position
• Exercises for basic movements, including forearm bounces, slurs, thumbs, wrist circles
• Adapting Hanon for developing forearm rotation
• Five-finger positions and other adapted Hanon exercises
• Recommendations and examples of elementary studies

The second part is devoted to intermediate and advanced aspects or technique, including:

• Finger exercises choreographed with alignment and co-ordination
• Chords, octaves and double notes
• Specific exercises for the above e.g. Beringer, Dohnányi
• Tips and ideas for inventing your own exercises from your pieces
• Recommendations and examples of etudes, some familiar and others a bit more off the beaten track!

How it works

The workshops will be divided up into a set of topics with an introductory presentation or demonstration for each followed by a “breakout” session in which you will be able to test out the concepts presented and associated exercises in the privacy of your own home. Worksheets with exercises at various levels will be provided. Graham will be on stand-by to give assistance during the breakout sessions which will then be followed by a group discussion and Q&A.

The session will be recorded and all participants will receive a link to download the video, worksheets and the accompanying presentation. Therefore, if you are unable to attend the session on the day, you will still be able to watch the video at your convenience and work through the exercises and examples.

Who it’s for?

The first part is aimed at pianists of all levels and teachers. It will be useful to elementary pianists and more advanced pianists seeking a refresher or “technical health check”. The second part is aimed at intermediate (e.g. Grade 5+) and advanced pianists. Tickets can be purchased for just the first part or for both parts together (please see details below).

The workshops are a follow-on from our introductory workshop on using exercises and studies effectively. Although you don’t need to have attended this workshop in order to participate, you can find out more about the introductory workshop and purchase access to the recording and resources here. 

Subscriber discounts

Discounted tickets are available to Online Academy subscribers. Please sign-in to your account and the discount will be automatically added at the check-out. If you are not an Online Academy subscriber and would like to find out more about subscription options then please click here for further information.

Click here to purchase a combined ticket for both parts or on the “Buy” button below to purchase a ticket for Part 1 only.

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Other ticket options

Using Technical Exercises and Studies - Interactive Workshop (Part 1 & 2)

13 Mar 2021 @ 13:00 GMT

$60.00 Buy now