Adele Marcus' Technical Regimen

Hi What a wonderful contribution. Especially the combination how to and the exercises themself. Many teachers use Philippe etc but doesn't know HOW the great masters actually used them. Of course many would object totally to do anything of the sort. I am not one of them raised with Philippe I know what tremendous change of technique will occur after some careful practice. The problem with injury is of course always there. One has to be careful. I think some physical training like correct use of wrist-training-devices Alans little exercise with weights to strenghten lumbricals (in All Thumbs) does the same and may show faster results. But using the keyboard is of course very important. As prof Sindre states one has to be very causious and progress very slowly. I now understands why Norway has produced so many good pianists.. Probably all exercises of this kind emanates from Liszt's exercises (even if it's not entirely proven they are from Liszt), what do you think?

prof Sindre also states that you do not actually play like this.That's very important...

Hi, ! Thanks for your comments. Personally, I was a bit disappointed by what I saw. From what I had read earlier, the stretching exercises were meant to build the muscles of the hand's arch, but what I see here is a kind of forearm rotation swing, brute strength with the finger going in a weird angle into the key. I require a very precise downward action from the MCP joint from my students when they do this kind of thing. Goes without saying. The exercises are meant to PREVENT injury, by the way. Agreed. Actually, I did lots of "finger light-weight lifting" myself in four directions: 1) palm down - lifting up 2) palm up - lifting up 3) palm towards you - lifting up 4) palm away from you - lifting up 3 and 4 work the weak intrinsic muscles (the muscles that move the fingers sideways) in both directions. Each finger is worked seperately, of course. I have no idea where these came from. Adele Marcus studied with Josef Lhevinne, so there may be Russian roots, the more so since Adolf von Henselt, who taught in Russia seems to have been a maniac in the finger stretching department. He was also known for his gorgeous tone. Unfortunately, he suffered from severe performance anxiety. Paul

I watched the video link and found much knowledge about sheetmusic with the exercises. First time I am able to get authentic stuff to know about sheetmusic with the exercises in detail. Thanks for sharing it.