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Technical Fundamentals
This selection of resources from the Online Academy’s technique library covers fundamental aspects of technique. It serves as a starting point for pianists at the elementary level looking to establish solid technical foundations as well as more advanced pianists seeking a refresher or “technical health check”.
Introduction
There are many different and often conflicting schools and traditions of piano playing, each having produced virtuosos. There is no such thing as the one correct piano technique. In these videos, Graham fitch shares some background regarding the history and development of piano technique.
Warming-Up
This 5-minute warm-up routine, has been developed by Penelope Roskell to warm-up the whole body before playing and to help you achieve a state of minimum tension from which to play safely and with freedom.
Foundations of Good Technique
– In these video lectures Ilga shares her experience on how to develop and teach good pianistic habits and ease of movements from the start, and how to tackle problems in piano playing caused by lack of flexibility.
Scales & Arpeggios
Scales and arpeggios are part of the requirements of all examination boards, and every pianist will encounter them. However, many players struggle with them because of poor technique. These videos provide suggestions for mastering the various technical challenges posed by scales and arpeggios.
Finger Exercises
In these videos from Graham Fitch’s piano technique lecture series, Graham Fitch examines various finger exercises and gives his take on how to use the ubiquitous exercises of Hanon most effectively.
Authors
Ilga Pitkevica
Ilga Pitkevica-Baldwin graduated from Jazepa Vitola Latvian Music Academy in Riga with honours and a Master’s degree in Solo Piano Performance, Piano Teaching, Accompaniment and Chamber Music. Ilga is a successful piano teacher with the private practice in Cambridge. Since 2014 Ilga has taught as a Principal Tutor of the internationally-acclaimed Piano Teachers’ Course UK. She also lectures in the UK and in Latvia on piano teaching, and on the history and teaching methods of the Russian Piano School.
Author profile >>Penelope Roskell
Penelope Roskell is equally renowned as a performer of international calibre and as an inspirational teacher and professor of piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is the author of The Complete Pianist: From Healthy Technique to Natural Artistry and is the leading UK specialist in healthy piano playing. She holds a clinic at the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine for pianists with injuries and her guide to preventing and recovering from injury is available here.
Author profile >>Graham Fitch
Graham Fitch, based in London, maintains an international career not only as a pianist, but also as a teacher, adjudicator, examiner, lecturer, writer and commentator on piano playing and musical subjects.
Author profile >>