INSCRIBED TO RENE

Vack ftkcum

Compiled By

Eucien €. Becker.

TH I EB ES-STI E RLI N MUSIC CO.

 : ” ;

PREFACE.
A larger work would be needed for an exhaustive treatment of Piano Technique.
This VADE MECUM
claims to give merely such exercises as are most needed by the
modern Additional material along lines herein indicated will be found in
pianist. the
compilations of Pishna, Germer, Tausig and Philipp.
L. E. B.

A SUGGESTION The next addition will be Chapter VII Arpeggios p. 9. Use

For the proper use of the “ Vade
Ex. a and b and practice same way as scale, beginning with one
Mecum of Piano Technique by
note to each metronome beat. Later use Ex. c first line only
Lucien E. Becker.
playing the right hand up (first measure), left hand down (second
Preparatory exercises, p. 3 and 4, may be used for the first measure). Later, hands together.
six months or year of piano instruction. About this time discard “Preparatory Exercises”, using
After having familiarized the pupil with rythm and movements however, D, E, F, G, metronome 50 and
at first position C,
of the exercises (which must absolutely be done by separate hand
omitting rythm of sixteenth.
practice) , use hands together as follows :
For this position only the following examples of Chapter I

may be used: A, C, H, I, J, K, M, O and Q.

PLAY After this we advise the following order of taking up Chapters
a. Once. V, III, II, VI, VIII.
b. Four times. For advanced students the suggestion of practice programs
e. Four times. may be advisable. These programs do not take longer than fifteen
d. Once. minutes for performance, and should be changed from time to
e. Three times. time.
/. Once. I

As
g.
Every
indicated.
Chapter I — a, b, h, i. Chapter II a. — Chapter IV — a, b, c.
h.
*•
repetition four times.
Once, repeating every measure three or four times.
d. Chapter V — a, b, c, d. Chapter VII — c, first line. Chapter
VIII—g.
The metronome supposed to beat throughout the practice
is
II
which will consume about fifteen minutes.
month
Chapter I — c, d, j, r. —
Chapter IV a, b, c, d. Chapter II —b.
After a
changes
or two introduce the following rythmical
Chapter III — a, b, c. Chapter V—
d, e. Chapter VIII b.

Ex. Play four quarter notes, followed by eight eighth

a.
II r
notes, treating every finger in the same manner.
Ex. b. Play once as written and double the time for the next Chapter I — d, e, o. Chapter II c. Chapter IV — — e. Chap-
three repetitions. ter VII — a, b. —
Chapter V- f. Chapter VIII a. —
Ex. c. Double time.
Ey. d and E. Do not change. IV
Ex. f. Change as indicated.
Ex. g and h. Same change as f.
Chapter 1 — a, k, t. Chapter IV— e. Chapter III — a, b.

Ex. i. Double as indicatedf but do not increase the speed.

Chapter VII — c. —
Chapter VI a. Chapter VIII d. —
The additions to use from the “Daily Exercises” will
first
V
will be Chapter IV Scale Practice, p. 7.
Begin with metronome at 50, one note to each beat. Play
Chapter I — 1, m, n, u. —
Chapter III c. Chapter IV — a, b, c,

twice. Two octaves. d. Chapter VI —b. —

Chapter V e, f. Chapter VIII f. —
Two notes to each beat. Twice. Two octaves
Three notes to each beat. Three times. Three octaves. VI
Later take four and six notes to each beat. Chapter I — f, g, s, t. Chapter IV— e. Chapter II — b, c,
Hands must be practiced separately and then together. Chapter V e, f. — —
Chapter VII e. Chapter VIII c, e. —
 M ADE
3

of
PIANO TECHNIQUE.
LUCIEN E. BECKER.
PREPARATORY EXERCISES.
Press down five keys. Keep hand in nor mid position. Be particular that every finger remain in turned

position. Have every finger including thumb strike from third joint, and use highest possible finger action.

At first exercise hands separately. After thorough practice use both hands together.
M. M. J - 60 .

a.)
asm* i* u >
-i»
Every finger practised
i*
in the same manner.

M.,M.J-
M. 4 - GO,.

fen- m
b.) c.)
=Bt: S

Perfect legato. Finger or knuckle staccato.

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1 1 1

Wrist staccato. Practise hands separately and with the unemployed one support the wrist of the
other playing.

e.) J-4- J J ^jjE

? i j
-

j
Portamento. Finger is half of the time on,
key and the rest of time kept up over key by
wrist action.

M. J - i

PPf p * * » #•

Perfect legato. Latere - 60 a«d o — 60 .

Copyright MCMU by JLuctim E. Becker.

4

m \rmnm
r -# J d J M- « J—#-

I , 3 ^ # 0 J J i J

m men. i
e0 4 times.
* 3 times. 4 times.
a '
4 times. nuiKts. ft

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t i n r • !• i
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Legato. Both hands alike.

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The first note of every group is struck with down wrist action. Last note of each group is played
sharply staccato with hounding up wrist movement. The hand is held perfectly motionless in stroke
position during the value of the rests. This exercise may he doubled hy repeating the first half of eve.
ry measure instead of taking a half rest. Absolutely necessary are strictest time and swiftest
motions.

Vade Ale cum.

 DAILY EXERCISES.
I. FINGER TRAINING.
The position is taken and every finger is practised separately, after that two,

then three and at last four and five fingers are used in conjunction. The left plays the same notes

as the right hand and therefore uses the weak fingers when the right plays the strong ones and vice versa.

. M.M. J - 40 50 60
, ,
.

is-)
Position. f f r r T7TT LLfrrr r r mrcxir
rr-O

Every finger or
•e-

—set
r r r
of fingers
r
is
fff-T felT ILL/
tobe practiced
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according to this formula.

»—j*—

1 2 5 3 4

1 8 3 5 4 1 2 4 3 5

1 8 3 4 s

b.) 3 4 5 1 e.) l
I / h) 3 4 5 2 i k.) 4 5 12 3 2
/
14 5 1 4 5 2 3

1 5
18 5 1 8 5 4 3

18 3 1 8 3 4 6 1 8 3 4 5

C.) 3 4 5 3 4 5 t2 4 5 i

2 1 .)
3
8 4 5 4 2 4 5ia
f.)
5
15 2
8 3 5
1
3
4
2 3 5 14
8 3 4 2 3 4 is 1 8 3
*

Vade Mecum .
6 2
1
4
m.) 4 5 2
1
3
r-) 1 5

1
2 3
4 5

1
2 3
5 4
{

U.
0.) 5 12 3 4 3 8 t) 5 S.

1 2 3 4 5 4 3 1

2 3 4 5 4 3 1 2

3 4 5 4 .4 1 2 3

1 2
4 5 3 2 1 2 3 4 3 5

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Other Positions
itions. )
'

f l>1fe

n. TWO FINGER EXERCISES.

Fingering 12, 2 3, 3 4, 4 5,

Hands separately and together.

Fade Mecutn.
 ^

HI. THUMB EXERCISES.

b.).
-

§
m n nig
1
—

r Ur L-r- fcP

b-)
i y» j~j m etc. two octaves and return.
8
V. OCTAVE PRACTICE.

One Octave scale and return.

b.) One Octave scale and return.

8 -

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L - 9 \ 9

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Example e. and f. in all keys.
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Practice beginning with any tone of the chromatic scale and always play rapidly.

Vade Mecum.
 9
s

Vade Mecutn.
 Yin. VARIOUS EXERCISES.

Vade Me cum.