A note from Alana

EXERCISE 1: Thank you students for your E-mails.  I love hearing from you,
 especially about your progress. 
I have had several E-mails asking about my practice routine and I have
to tell you that I am back to my normal routine finally.  You can think of
me every morning, for I am at the piano by 6:30 A.M.  I am recording a
new CD, mainly all rhythms, and so I am back practicing every day, and
believe it or not, I do have some sore fingers.

I am going to share with you my program gradually, and will start with
practicing Hanon.  This is the first warm up exercise for me every day.
If you do not have the Hanon exercises you can purchase them at
Music notes.  This is excellent for Intermediate and Jazz Students.

I start with practice #1 and play it at least 4-6 times without stopping.
Listen to the AUDIO giving you exact practicing instructions.
E-Mail  alana@musicandyou.com
 

A note from Alana

Alana's practice routine, second exercise

I always start with Hanon, then I move to this stretching  exercise.

This exercise is in Intermediate Lesson # 35.
Page 17 describes the chords that are used, C diminished D diminished and G diminished. 

It's very easy, play C diminished chord in octaves ascending, then change to G diminished chord to descend, then D diminished chord ascending and play C Diminished chord descending to the starting point.

Watch the fingering, use 1 & 5  on all white note octaves, and 1 - 4 on the black note octaves. 

Learn to play the exercise without the music.  Go Slow.
Start with the first chord C diminished and practice that a few days, then practice the G diminished descending, a few days, then practice them together.  Do the same with D diminished.

GO SLOW and build the strength in your hands, because your hand have sore muscles if you try and play it all at once.

I practice this exercise 5-10 times.

E-Mail  alana@musicandyou.com