I really need to improve my velocity for a new piece i'm learning and was wondering if anyone could suggest a good book. I currently use Tankard for normal technique stuff but he doesn't do much in the way of speed. If anyone could help i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

x

I don't think you necessarly need a technique book to play the piece you are working on faster. I would recommend working technique on the music itself. You can do impulse practicing, which consists of taking small groups of notes (like 4 16th notes) and dropping on the first note then slightly shifting the hand over to automatically play the 3 other notes. This results in less notey playing. It may sound complicated, but if you see someone do it, it's really not difficult. I might not have explained it the best either. Also slow to fast with the metronome, moving it up 2 notches at a time really helps.

hmm, the obvious answer might be Czerny's school of velocity?

'Czerny's school of velocity'

Is that a book? And is it available in England?

x

Hmm, I'm not sure about England, but Alfred makes a great copy of the school of velocity. It's about $11 here in the U.S. Here is the information:

Czerny: The School of Velocity Op. 299 (Complete)
Edited by Willard A. Palmer
ISBN: 0-7390-1064-6

It's a handy book that helped me advance towards etudes since it deals with fast passages throughout the book! But, of course, you can always try finding a .PDF file of the Op. 299, but getting a book is just more convenient.

Everybody over on Classical Insites was trilling about the Dohnanyi Etudes - I have them but never got seriously into them, too much other stuff to do...so many pieces, so little time...ach du lieber...

hey princess,

Check out this thread which Elena kindly posted-- it helped me build up speed with Chopin's deadly Op.10/4 Etude:
web page

In fact Op.10/4 itself is a great piece for speed and finger technique if you want to try it. I don't think it's that hard to learn, but to play it fast might take years (at least it has for me). Hope that helps, -Paul

Thanks guys. I'll look out for Czerny and i read through that post and its already helped loads, thanx Paulie!

x

"Could anyone suggest a good book?"

The Chronicals of Narnia!!!
My favorite books in the series are:
'The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe',
'and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'.

AWESOME BOOKS by C.S.Lewis.

They were actually SET in ENGLAND!!! HAH!

Yes, you're very witty 86. I'm suprised that didn't come up sooner.

x

Not-uh. They were set in a wardrobe. :p