Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects

[jodi]

I’ve been dropping things lately - not a lot, and not big things, but small things held between two or three fingers. Noticeable now because I’ve recently become obsessed with polymer clay, which led to jewelry making ideas (to sell in the gallery I belong to) which led to me dragging out all my old beading stuff (I used to make horse hair bracelets). At any rate, all that has me seeing that my fingers aren’t a nimble as they use to be.

So instead of freaking out, I decided I really should get back to consistently playing the piano (or really just playing the piano again instead of not playing the piano, which is where I’ve been for awhile). And I’m trying an experiment, hoping some (boring) Hanon will help - about 15 minutes of slow practice a day, just through the exercises, 3 at a time, to see if working all the fingers helps me get back to not dropping small things. I play with a metronome set at 60, and I do not play legato, but almost staccato, to make sure I activate each finger evenly. At the end, I play a little bit of a piece I’ve been hearing on the classical station I listen to - it’s so beautiful, (but is only a workout for the right hand, lots of held notes with with one or two fingers while others keep playing). Not sure if it’s working yet, as this is only day 4. But hopefully it will help.

Anyway - here are some pictures:

[mark]

I love this! Not the Hanon though. I hate that guy! lol

Good idea to strengthen your fingers. Your artwork is awesome.

[taiwan_girl]

@mark said in Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects:

I love this! Not the Hanon though. I hate that guy! lol

Good idea to strengthen your fingers. Your artwork is awesome.

I second this!! So you are so talented @jodi !!!!

[Copper]

I love Hanons

They just make so much sense to me

I can, and have, played them all day long

[brenda]

Jodi, I could spend an entire day with you just learning about these beads you make. Beautiful!

[jodi]

Thank you guys. The polymer clay fascination is new. At Christmas, I took out a sample kit I bought 6 years ago from Costco and started playing with it. When i ran out of clay (Sculpey Premo and Soufflé) I started looking for more and realized it was scarce (supply chain/covid) and so now whenever I find it, I buy it. It’s really hard to find red. I’ve become a little obsessed with it all. I even bought a pasta machine to help blend the colors together. (Much easier on the wrists than rolling it by hand).

[jodi]

@brenda That would be fun. Craft days with buddies are the best.

[jodi]

@copper said in Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects:

I love Hanons

They just make so much sense to me

I can, and have, played them all day long

I’m going to assume you are being serious. I like them because they repetitive - so all I have to think about is cooridinating the finger patterning, (and learning that happens fairly quickly), and so it is more like exercise helping the fingers strenghten and work independently at different speeds (than music). I find that useful.

[Copper]

@jodi said in Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects:

I’m going to assume you are being serious.

Sadly, I am.

[jodi]

You crack me up.

[Rich]

I initially read the book as "Hannon, the virtual pianist"

[George K]

@rich @jon-nyc read it as the "Virtuous" Pianist.

That's why he never opened the book.

[brenda]

@copper said in Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects:

@jodi said in Manual dexterity, Hanon and craft projects:

I’m going to assume you are being serious.

Sadly, I am.