Although it’s a means to an end, a refined piano technique is important for being able to realise our artistic aspirations at the piano. If you’re looking to work on your technique, our technique library has a vast array of resources to help you develop many aspects of your technique at all levels.
We’ve also compiled a selection of our most popular modules and video lessons on improving your piano technique for beginners, teachers and pianists seeking a technical “refresher”! This collection comprises the following modules:
Elementary Piano Technique – Introduction & Basics
Based on motions that are natural to the body, this introductory module explores the basics of piano technique, through a series of videos demonstrating how to move in ways that are natural the body to achieve physical freedom for playing that feels and sounds good. It serves as a starting point for beginners and will also be useful to teachers or those seeking a refresher on the basics. Click here for more information.
Elementary Piano Technique – Fundamentals of Scales & Arpeggios
This module follows on from the introductory module to explore the fundamentals of scale and arpeggio playing, featuring close-up video demonstrations of the movements involved. It provides suggestions and exercises for mastering technical challenges such as thumb passage and gaining speed, with further tips on how to structure scale and using finger groupings and families. Click here for more information.
The Art of Piano Fingering
A thorough understanding of the principles of good fingering is a vital basis for good piano playing. Without comfortable, musically appropriate fingerings, we can waste hours of practice time trying to remedy a problem which could have been averted much earlier. In this series of articles and videos based on her book by the same title, Penelope Roskell looks at the fundamental principles which lie at the heart of good fingering. Click here for more information.
Foundations of Good Technique
In these video lectures Ilga shares her experience on how to teach good pianistic habits and ease of movements from the start, and how to tackle problems in piano playing caused by lack of flexibility. Ease of movement helps not only to avoid tension and unnecessary rigidness in piano playing, but it has a direct effect on building up speed and precision in piano technique. Click here for more information.
Healthy Piano Playing
It’s all very well spending hours honing your technique, but injury can prove to be a major set-back to your progress. In this guide, specialist in healthy piano playing and pianist’s injuries Penelope Roskell provides a comprehensive guide to developing a healthy technique with detailed information and numerous video demonstrations on how to prevent and recover from the most common piano-related injuries. Click here to read the introduction.
A Practical Guide to Forearm Rotation
Forearm rotation is a way of coordinating the arm with the fingers in very specific and controlled ways and can yield significant benefits, including improved coordination, reduced tension and a feeling of greater strength in your playing. This step-by-step guide equips you with the basic theory as you experience and install the movements, with videos and musical examples demonstrating each stage. Click here to read the module introduction.
Jailbreaking Hanon
In this newly completed lecture series, Graham Fitch shows many applications for Hanon’s exercises, including how they can be used as a blank canvas to experience and develop movements encountered in real music, such as lateral wrist adjustments, wrist circles, rotational movements and more! Click here to view the introductory video.
Special Offer!
Get access to all of the resources listed above when purchasing our Ultimate Technique Bundle and save an additional 20% with our summer promotion! This offer gives you access to over 50 articles and videos for only £36 (full price £45) as a once-off purchase. Click here to take advantage of this special offer.
Other Technique Resources
Click on any of the following links for more information on additional resources for piano technique: