Hello. I have been playing piano for about 5 months now. I have The Piano Handbook by Carl Humphries. I was wondering if someone could tell me about how long it should take to go through the book? I am about half way through. I just wanted to know if I am going to fast or slow? Also on the Hanon excersises I have been trying to learn a new one every other day or so and mastering if before going to the next, and always running through the others I have learned first. Is that right or should I try to sight read them? I also practice scales, I know all the major, and working on the rest. I have only had the Hanon book about a month, but it has seemed to helped. If anyone has any suggestions I would welcome them.

Thank you

i do not think piano is about how fast you go through a book or lesson book or what have you. as long as you are learning at a comfortable pace, then you are doing just fine. as far as hanon, most people do one hanon a week and do different excercises with it, ie slow fast stacatto legato etc. etc. then move on. i dont have any suggestions except to say if you are comfortable at your pace then you are doing fine.

here are some pointers with hanon:
-Dont go on to any more hanon untill you have mastered each one evenly at 155 or more.
-Dont rush through them
-Have fun with hanon!
-I do 30 minutes of Hanon a day. (some people would scream if they did that much!)
-Once you work up to it:
-Go through all the exercises 2 twice
once at 180 bmp (works on control aand independance)
and the second time at 100 bmp(works on stability and eveness)
- do hanon in different keys
Have fun and welcome to the forum.

Debussy20, are you saying that you do all of Hanon at 155-180 bpm, 4 notes per click of the metronome???!!!!!!!

That's extremely impressive!

I just can't imagine myself at this time doing scales in thirds, forths, fifths, double octaves and arpeggios that fast.

Maybe in a year.

Mel

Mel, work up to it.
If you read the pretext Hanon states clearly that all should be mastered at 180 before preceding. Personally I like to master each at 100 then move the the next one. Whatever your preference...

My Hanon says 108 not 180.

Huge difference.

Mel

Thanks alot. I will try all your suggestions.

Welcome Mike.

If you do Hanon regularly, you'll see a huge improvement in your playing.

As you practice Hanon and everything else, notice if there is any tension in your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, back, legs, and feet and release the tension as soon as you are aware of it. I have to do this constantly.

Check out this Hanon Study Group for lots of good suggestions:


http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/32/2406.html


Mel

I think that to be halfway through the Piano Handbook at 5 months is fast.

The Piano Handbook is a great book, but it has a very broad scope. It goes from some very simple pieces to some very complex pieces. To learn to play everything in that book well could take many years.

You might want to supplement it with something like the Alfred’s Adult course to give you some variety and some pieces that may be easier to handle.

Oh

Your right.
Im going right out of my mind.
Thanks for catching my mistake.

I have The Piano Handbook by Carl Humphries. I was wondering if someone could tell me about how long it should take to go through the book?[/b]

I agree with Copper, the Piano Handbook is as much a reference book as a learning tool covering alot of different types of piano music from classical, rag, blues, jazz, bossa nova etc. I wouldn't necessarily use it exclusively to learn but it really is great as a reference. The included CD by the author is also great to demonstrate proper tempo, dynamics and phrasing.

If you have learned half the book in 5 months that is quite good progress, actually it is remarkable progress. Some of these pieces are quite advanced works and to master them would in my judgement take many years of study. Take your time and enjoy the journey, learning to properly play piano is not about how long it takes but how WELL you learn.