C l hanon biography

Collection of études by Charles-Louis Hanon

The Virtuoso Pianist (Le Pianiste virtuose) by Charles-Louis Hanon (1819 – 1900), is a compilation of sixty exercises meant to train the pianist in speed, precision, agility, and strength of all of the fingers and flexibility in the wrists.

First published in Boulogne, in 1873, The Virtuoso Pianist is Hanon's most well-known work, and is still widely used by piano instructors and pupils.

C l hanon biography

However, the applicability of these nineteenth-century exercises has been questioned by some piano instructors today.

Overview

The exercises are intended to address common problems which could hamper the performance abilities of a student.

These include "crossing of the thumb", strengthening of the fourth and fifth fingers, and quadruple- and triple-trills. The exercises are meant to be individually mastered and then played consecutively in the sections they are placed in.

Apart from increasing technical