Lesson 318

Hanon Exercise #11

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Hello and welcome back I'm Joseph Hoffman,

and in this lesson we're going to learn how to play the original version of "C.L. Hanon's Exercise Number 11"

from the Virtuoso Pianist. Let's come to the piano to get started.

Notice that both hands begin in bass staff. Left hand on low C, right hand on bass C,

and here's this opening three note pattern that we've very often seen in other Hanon exercises. Be careful

of the fingering. Notice the left hand is 5 3 1 well the right hand is 1 2 5.

So it's that finger 3 with the 2 that can throw some people off sometimes. So play this as a block,

and then try the first three notes like this.

And then from there,

it follows what we're used to seeing with Hanon.

This time what we're focusing on is finger 5 and 4.

Because that back and forth these are often considered the two weakest fingers.

At least many pianists find that you know back and forth between finger 4 and 5 isn't

necessarily the most comfortable, so this is going to give you lots of practice with that finger 5 and 4.

So make sure you're playing it near the tip,

not karate chop style. You want to keep that finger 5 near the tip.

The right hand is going to excise that 4 and 5 on the way up, but then in descending.

Now it's the left hand that gets that 5, 4 workout.

Don't forget, this pattern now reverse is going down right hand is 5 2 1. Left hand is 1 3 5 with the fourth on top the third on the bottom.

Again, with the left hand make sure your pinky is playing near the tip, not flat karate chop style

You'll get the most benefit from Hanon if you're using great piano posture, fingers in the correct shape using arm weight, flexible wrist,

and then don't forget about the fast tools.

We've got fast fours as a tool for practicing. One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four.

That's called fast fours, and then long, short long, short long, short long, short long, short long, and then, switch long short with short long.

Short long, short long, short long, short long.

You've got to alternate long short

with short long

the next time you play through, and then of course the metronome.

turn on your metronome, find a speed you're comfortable, and then gradually push yourself, push yourself,

until you can do the whole thing at a fast fun tempo.

So pause the video now and play through "Hanon Number 11," on your own, and then press play to go on.

One other way you can challenge yourself with Hanon is to transpose it. Like what if we did in the key of G?

Notice now any time

I get to an F, I pretend the f is hot lava and make it an F-sharp.

Or you could do an even more challenging key like how about A major? So now C, F, and G are all hot lava,

and they all become sharp.

That's a real fun challenge. So you can try any key, transpose Hanon

for extra practice.

Can you do it in B-flat?

So now B and E are hot lava. They both become flat.

Okay, this is a great way to challenge yourself musically.

Great work learning how to play "Hanon's Exercise Number 11" from the Virtuoso Pianist.

Thanks for watching and learning with me, and happy practicing!

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