Rating: 
Summary: These exercises really work.
Review: If you want to strengthen your fingers and learn note patterns relevant to all types of music, you need this book. Yes, the exercises sound repetitive, and they'll drive anyone listening to you practice them nuts, but they work. And after practicing them for a while, you begin to realize that they are not as repetitive as they seem. The patterns vary in a way that becomes more obvious as you practice them more. The exercises are carefully designed to (1) strengthen the weak fingers of the hand (3-4-5), and (2) teach patterns of notes that recur not only in classical music but in melodies of all types of music. Each exercise varies in a manner that rests the fingers worked on in the previous exercise, so you can play through a series of them without overly tiring out your hands. For this reason they work great as warm-ups. The book is divided into three sections of 20 exercises each. I use the first 20 as warm-ups, playing them for about 15 minutes. The later exercises are more advanced and teach things like fast running octaves, arpeggios, and repeated notes. Since I started using these exercises, my hands are noticably stronger. I've been playing piano for 32+ years, and play at an advanced level. But these exercises (at least numbers 1 through 20) would be useful for a pianist of any level, from beginner to advanced. Yes, they can be boring to play, but the improvement you will notice from 15-20 minutes a day is worth it.
Rating:
Summary: These exercises really work.
Review: If you want to strengthen your fingers and learn note patterns relevant to all types of music, you need this book. Yes, the exercises sound repetitive, and they'll drive anyone listening to you practice them nuts, but they work. And after practicing them for a while, you begin to realize that they are not as repetitive as they seem. The patterns vary in a way that becomes more obvious as you practice them more. The exercises are carefully designed to (1) strengthen the weak fingers of the hand (3-4-5), and (2) teach patterns of notes that recur not only in classical music but in melodies of all types of music. Each exercise varies in a manner that rests the fingers worked on in the previous exercise, so you can play through a series of them without overly tiring out your hands. For this reason they work great as warm-ups. The book is divided into three sections of 20 exercises each. I use the first 20 as warm-ups, playing them for about 15 minutes. The later exercises are more advanced and teach things like fast running octaves, arpeggios, and repeated notes. Since I started using these exercises, my hands are noticably stronger. I've been playing piano for 32+ years, and play at an advanced level. But these exercises (at least numbers 1 through 20) would be useful for a pianist of any level, from beginner to advanced. Yes, they can be boring to play, but the improvement you will notice from 15-20 minutes a day is worth it.
Rating:
Summary: The most valuable piano resource you'll ever own
Review: This book can (and WILL) actually take you from a beginner-intermediate level to virtuoso pianist status. The introduction of the book states that a person can start using this book as early as one year of lessons! If you've been studying piano for at least one year, you should get this book...NOW!
A metronome is very helpful. Usually, each exercise has both hands doing the same thing in sixteenth note, one or two measure patterns. The book suggests you start each exercise at a metronome marking of 60, and gradually (at your own pace) increase the speed to 108.
Virtuoso Pianist is divided into three 20-exercise sections. Within each section, detailed instructions and tips are given on HOW to play each piece, HOW MANY TIME to play each piece, and WHAT the piece helps strengthen. The organization of the book is flawless.
... You simply can't afford to pass this up. Whether you are abeginner or an advanced student, this is the book you're looking forto take you to the next level.
Rating:
Summary: The classic finger exercises book!
Review: This book is a classic, and for a good reason. It provides an excellent framework (for students at all leves) to achieve finger independence and dexterity. Part One essentially is 5-tone exercises, while Part Two continues with scale studies, and double stops. Hanon himself proposes that the whole volume be played through daily (after familiarizing oneself with the material). For most this is a bit over the top, but certainly 15-20 minutes a day will do all pianists a lot of good. Don't forget to read Hanon's comments carefully and follow his instructions. And finally, at this price this book is a STEAL!!!
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