Exercise 1a - Staccato vs.

Legato
Right hand plays staccato (bouncy); Left hand plays legato (smoothly).

C major

& 44

? 44

? # 44

D major

## 4
& 4
.

? ## 4
4

? b 44

F major

& b 44 .

G major

# 4
& 4 .

Exercise 1b - Staccato vs. Legato

Right hand plays legato; Left hand plays staccato

C major

& 44

? 44
.

G major

# 4
& 4
? # 44 .

D major

## 4
& 4
? # # 4 .
4

F major

& b 44
? b 44 .

Exercise 2a - Staccato vs. Legato (Ascending and Descending)

C major

& 44

? 44

G major

# 4
& 4 .

? # 44

? ## 4
4

? b 44

F major

& b 44 .

D major

## 4
& 4
.

Exercise 2b - Staccato vs. Legato (Ascending and Descending)

C major

& 44
? 44
.

G major

# 4
& 4
? # 44 .

D major

## 4
& 4
? # # 4 .
4

F major

4
b
& 4
? b 44 .

Exercise 3a - Root-Fifth Pattern

Right hand plays C scale; Left hand plays root-fifth pattern

C major

& 44

? 44

G major

# 4
& 4
? # 44

D major

## 4
& 4
? ## 4
4

F major

& b 44
? b 44

Exercise 3b - Root-Fifth Pattern

C major

& 44

Right hand plays C scale; Left hand plays root-fifth pattern

? 44
# 4
& 4

5
G major

? ## 4
4

? b 44

F major

& b 44

D major

## 4
& 4

? # 44

Exercise 3c - Root-Fifth Pattern

A major

### 4
& 4

b
& b 44

? # # # # 44
Bb major

? b b 44
b

Bb

Eb major

b
& b b 44

? b 4
b 4

E major

#### 4
&
4

? # # # 44

Right hand plays A scale; Left hand plays root-fifth pattern

Exercise 4a - Dynamics Contrast

Piano playing involves harmonization and dynamics. The right hand is usually louder than the left hand.

# 2
& 4
? # 42

Play the left hand louder than the right hand with this exercise.

# 2
& 4
? # 42

The left hand is soft first; then it's loud.

# 2
& 4
?# 2
4

left hand is loud first; then it's soft.

# The
2

& 4
f

? # 42

Exercise 4b - Dynamics Contrast

Soft left hand

# 2
& 4
? # 42

Loud left hand

# 2
& 4
? # 42

# 2
& 4

The left hand is soft first; then it's loud.

?# 2
4

# 2 The left hand is loud first; then it's soft.

& 4
f

? # 42

Exercise 5 - Dynamics Contrast

D major: The left hand is moderately soft.

## 2
& 4

? ## 2
4

F
P

The left hand is loud.

## 2
& 4

? ## 2
4

# # 4 The left hand is soft first; then it's loud.

& 4

? # # 44

Exercise 6 - Dynamics Contrast

D major: The right hand plays block chords. All three keys are pressed down at the same time.
The left hand plays the melody louder.

## 2
& 4

? # 42

? 2
b 4
# 2G major

& 4

? ## 2
4

F major
2
b
& 4

Exercise 7 - Dynamics Control

Pay attention to the tone and touch. Look for p, mf, crescendo and decrescendo.

& 44

p
F
p
F
w
w
?4 w
w
4
F major

& 4
p
F
p
F
w
w
? 4 w
w
b 4
G major

# 4

& 4
p
F
p
F
w
w
w
? # 44 w

Exercise 8 - Dynamics Control

& 44

C major: The left hand plays evenly and clearly. Pay attention to the volume.

w
w
w
w
F
p
F
p
?4
4
F major

& b 44 w

w
p

F
F
p

? 4
b 4
G major

# 4
& 4 w

w
w
F
p
F
p

? # 44

Exercise 9a - Contrary Motions

C major: Contrary motions

& 44

F
F
p
p




? 44
F major

& 4

F
F
p
p

? b 44
G major

# 4

& 4

F
F
p
p

?# 4
4

Exercise 9b - Contrary Motions

D major: Contrary motions

## 4

& 4

F
F
p
p




? # # 44

### 4

& 4
F
F
p
p

? # # # 44
A major

E major

#### 4



&
4
F
F
p
p

? #### 4
4

Exercise 9c - Contrary Motions

Bb major: Contrary motions

4 3 2 1 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4
b 4


b
& 4
F
F
p
p

? b b 44
3

2 1 4 3 2 1

1 2

3 4 1 2

Eb major
3 2

bb b 4 1 4 3 2 1 2 1 23 4 1 2 3

& 4


F
F
p
p

? b b 44

b
3

2 1 4 3 2 1

1 2

3 4 1 2

Ab major
3 2 1 3 2 1 3

2 3 1 2 3 1 2
3

bb 4

& b 4
F
F
p
p

? bb 4
bb 4
3

2 1 4 3 2

1 2 3 4 1 2

< Crescendo - Becoming gradually louder

> Diminuendo/Decrescendo - Becoming gradually softer

Exercise 10a - Hand Coordination, Articulation and Dynamics

Ferdinand Beyer (Op. 101)

& 4
F
p
F
p
w
ww
ww
ww
? b 44 w
w

& 4
p
f

ww

? b 44

w

w

Suggestion: Articulation is important in piano playing. You may transpose this exercise into another key such as
G major or D major.

Exercise 10b - Hand Coordination, Articulation and Dynamics

Ferdinand Beyer (Op. 101)

# 4

& 4
p
F
F
p
w
ww
ww
ww
? # 44 w

This is the exact exercise as the previous page except this is in the key of G. Please work out the last exercise first.

# 4
w

& 4
p
f

ww

? # 44

w

w

Exercise 11a - Sixths and Thirds

C major: Practice sixths and thirds in the key of C.

& 44

? 44

4
&4

? 44

Exercise 11b - Sixths and Thirds

# 4
& 4

G major: Practice sixths and thirds in the key of G

? # 44

# 4

& 4
? # 44

Exercise 11c - Sixths and Thirds

## 4
& 4

? # # 44

D major: Practice sixths and thirds in the key of D

## 4
& 4

? # # 44

Exercise 12a - Sixths and Thirds

These exercises drill on sixths and thirds. Bonus: Create your own arrangements using thirds and sixths.

& 44
C major

? 4
4
G major

# 4
& 4

? # 4
4

D major

## 4
& 4

? # # 44
F major

4
&b 4
? b 44

Exercise 12b - Sixths and Thirds

### 4
& 4
A major

? # # # 44

E major

#### 4
&
4

? # # # # 44
Bb major

b
& b 44

? b 4
b 4

Eb major

b
& b b 44
? b b 44
b

Exercise 13a - Combining both thirds and sixths

C major

& 44

? 44

G major

# 4
& 4
? # 44

F major

& b 44
? 4
b 4

D major

## 4
& 4
? # # 44

Exercise 13b - Combining both thirds and sixths

Bb major

b 4
b
& 4
? b b 44

Eb major

b 4
& b b 4
? b b 44
b

Ab major

b
& b b b 44
? bb 4
bb 4

E major

#### 4
&
4
? # # # # 44

Exercise 14a - Left hand coordination exercise using root/fifth/octave

& 68 .

Add in more melody notes after you are comfortable with the left hand part.

? 68

F major

6
& b 8 .
? b 68

# 6
& 8 .

G major

?# 6
8

Exercise 14b - Left hand coordination exercise using root/fifth/octave

Add in more melody notes after you are comfortable with the left hand part.

& 68 ..

A minor

? 68

..

..

..

D minor

6
& b 8 ..
? b 68

b
& b 68 .
.

..

..

..

G minor

..

..

..

? b 6

b 8

Exercise 14c - Left hand coordination exercise using root/fifth/octave

Improvise and create your own right hand melodies.

& 68
? 68

A minor

D minor

6
&b 8

? b 68
b
& b 68

G minor

? b 6

b 8

Exercise 15 - Left hand coordination using root/fifth/tenth

Slowly add in more melody notes.
b
& 68
.
.

? 6

b 8

& 68 ..

Add in more thirds or sixths to the right hand part to create different arrangements

..

..

?6

..

Create your own right hand melodies with the following exercise.

6
&8
? 68

Exercise 16a - Hand Coordination - Ballad Styles

& 44
? 44

Ballad Style - Apply the exercise to different keys.

F major
4
b
& 4

? b 44

# 4
& 4

G major

?# 4

Exercise 16b - Hand Coordination - Ballad Styles

Bb major

b 4
b
& 4

? b b 44
5

#D# major
4
& 4
? # # 44

### 4
& 4

A major

? ### 4

Exercise 17 - Hand Coordination - Ballad Styles

Ballad Style - Work the exercise. Bonus: Improvise with the right hand.

& b 44

? 4

b 4

& b 44

? 4

b 4

4
&b 4

? b 44

Exercise 18 - Hand Coordination - More Ballad Styles

Ballad Style - Work the exercise. Bonus: Improvise with the right hand.

# 4
& 4

?# 4

# 4
& 4


?# 4

# 4
& 4

? # 44

These exercises provide good left hand arrangement techniques. Once you become comfortable
with the left hand exercises, you may start improvising with the right hand.

Exercise 19a - Fillers and Runs using chord inversions

C major: Start slowly and gradually increase the speed of the runs/fillers.

& 44

? 44 w
w
G major

# 4
& 4

? # 44
w
w
F major

& b 44

? 4
b 4 w
w

Exercise 19b - Fillers and Runs using chord inversions

D major

## 4
& 4

### 4
& 4

? # # 44 w
w

A major

? # # # 44
w
w
#### 4
&
4

E major

? #### 4 E
4 w
w

Exercise 19c - Fillers and Runs using chord inversions

Bb major

b 4
b
& 4

? b b 44 ww
1

Eb major

b 4
&bb 4

? b b 44 Eb
b w
w
b
& b b b 44

Ab major

? bb 4
bb 4 w
w

Exercise 20a - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

&4

C major: Practice the left hand first. Combine both hands later.

? 44

4

&b 4

F major

? b 44

# 4
& 4

G major

?# 4
4

Exercise 20b - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

## 4

& 4

D major

? # # 44

F# D A

### 4

& 4

A major

? # # # 44
#### 4
&
4

E major

? #### 4
4

Exercise 20c - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

b 4

& 4

Bb major

? b b 44

G Eb Bb

bb b 4

& 4

Eb major

? b b 44
b

& b b b 44


Ab major

? bb 4
bb 4

Exercise 20d - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

&4

C major: Practice the left hand first. Combine both hands later.

? 44

4

&b 4

F major

? b 44

# 4
& 4

G major

?# 4
4

Exercise 20e - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

## 4

& 4

D major

? # # 44

F# D A

### 4

& 4

A major

? # # # 44
#### 4
&
4

E major

? #### 4
4

Exercise 20f - Right Hand Runs Vs. Left Hand Root Octave Style

b 4

& 4

Bb major

? b b 44

G Eb Bb

bb b 4

& 4

Eb major

? b b 44
b

& b b b 44


Ab major

? bb 4
bb 4

Exercise 21a - Arpeggios and Runs

C major: Practice each hand separately first. Combine both hands later.

& 12
8

? 12

8

1 3 2
1
2 3

.
1
2 3
1 2 3

C G E

12

& 8
1 2 3
5
3 2

.
1 3 2
1 3

? 12
8

& 12
8
? 12
8

C E G

.


.

Exercise 21b - Arpeggios and Runs

G major

# 12
& 8

? # 12

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

.
1
2 3
1 2 3

# 12 1 2 3 1 2 3

& 8

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

? # 12
8
# 12
& 8
? # 12
8

.


.

Exercise 21c - Arpeggios and Runs

F major

& b 12
8

? b 12

12

b
& 8

.



.

? b 12
8

& b 12
8
? 12
b 8

Exercise 21d - Arpeggios and Runs

# # 12
& 8

D major

? # # 12
8

# # 12
& 8

? # # 12

8

D F#

? # # 12
8
# # 12
& 8

Exercise 21e - Arpeggios and Runs

major
# # #A 12
&
8

? # # # 12

# # # 12

&
8

? # # # 12
8
# # # 12
&
8
? # # # 12
8

.



.

Exercise 21f - Arpeggios and Runs

# # #E# major
12
&
8

? # # # # 12

# # # # 12

&
8

? # # # # 12
8

? # # # # 12
8
# # # # 12
&
8

.


.

Exercise 21g - Arpeggios and Runs

Bb major

b 12
b
& 8

? b b 12

bb 12

& 8

? b b 12
8

? b 12

b 8

b
& b 12
8

.



.

Exercise 21h - Arpeggios and Runs

Eb major

b b 12
b
&
8

? b b 12

b 8

b b 12
b

&
8

? b b 12
b 8
b
& b b 12
8
? b 12
bb 8

.


.

Exercise 22a - Arpeggios and Runs (Contrary Motions)

Practice each hand separately. Combine both hands afterward.

C major

& 98
? 98

G major

# 9
& 8

? # 98

F major

& b 98

? 9
b 8

5 .

.
.

Exercise 22b - Arpeggios and Runs (Contrary Motions)

D major

## 9
& 8
? # # 98

A major

### 9
& 8

? # # # 98

E major

#### 9
&
8

? #### 9
8

.
.

Exercise 23a - Runs and Melodies

&4

C Chord (CEG) + 2nd (D)

1 2 3 4

? 44 ww

2 3 4

w
w

&b 4

F Chord (FAC) + 2nd (G)

? b 44 w
w

ww

G Chord (GBD) + 2nd (A)

# 4

& 4

?# 4 w
4w

ww

Exercise 23b - Runs and Melodies

## 4

& 4
D Chord (CEG) + 2nd (E)

1 2 3 4

? # # 44 ww

2 3 4

ww

A Chord (FAC) + 2nd (B)

### 4

& 4

? # # # 44 w
w
#### 4
&
4

w
w

E Chord (GBD) + 2nd (F#)

? #### 4
4 ww

ww

Exercise 23c - Runs and Melodies

bb 4



& 4

Bb Chord (Bb D F) + 2nd (C)

1 2 3 4

2 3 4

? b b 44 ww

ww

Eb Chord (Eb G Bb) + 2nd (F)

b 4
&bb 4

2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2

? b b 44 w
b w

2 1 4 3 2 1 3

w
w

& b b b 44
Ab Chord (Ab C Eb) + 2nd (Bb)

2 3 4 1 2 3

? bb 4 w
bb 4 w

4 5 5 4 3 2 1 4 3 2

ww

Exercise 23d - Runs and Melodies

&4

C Suspended Chord (CFG)

w
? 44 w

1 2 3

3 5

F Suspended Chord (F Bb C)

4

&b 4
w
? b 44 w

# 4

& 4

G Suspended Chord (G C D)

?# 4 w
4 w

Exercise 23e - Runs and Melodies

## 4

& 4

D Suspended Chord (D G A)

w
? # # 44 w

1 2 3

3 5

### 4


& 4

A Suspended Chord (A D E)

? # # # 44 w
w

E Suspended Chord (E A B)

#
## # 4

&
4
w
? #### 4 w
4

Exercise 23f - Runs and Melodies

bb 4

& 4

Bb Suspended Chord (Bb Eb F)

1 2 3

? b b 44 ww

3 5

Eb Suspended Chord (Eb Ab Bb)

b 4
&bb 4

w
? b b 44 w
b

bb 4

b
& b 4

Ab Suspended Chord (Ab Db Eb)

? bb 4 w
bb 4 w

Exercise 23g - Runs and Melodies

&4

C Chord (CEG) + 6th (A)

1 2

? 44 ww

2 3

4 5

3 2

1 4 3 2 1 4

3 2

b

& 4

F Chord (FAC) + 6th (D)

1 2

? b 44 w
w

1 2

4 5

4 3 2

1 3 2

# 4

& 4

G Chord (GBD) + 6th (E)

1 2

?# 4 w
4w

1 2 3

2 3

4 5

4 3 2

1 3 2

Exercise 23h - Runs and Melodies

## 4

& 4
D Chord (D F# A) + 6th (B)

3 4

? # # 44 ww

2 3

2 3

4 5

3 2

1 4 3 2 1 4

3 2

### 4

& 4

A Chord (A C# E) + 6th (F#)

? # # # 44 w
w

3 4

1 2

4 5

4 3 2 1 4 3 2

E Chord (E G# B) + 6th (C#)

#

## # 4

&
4

2 3 4

? #### 4 w
4w

1 2 3

2 3

4 5

1 4 3 2

1 4 3 2

Exercise 24: Ragtime and Swing

C Major Chord

?c

F Major Chord

G Major Chord

?#

D Major Chord

? ##

A Major Chord

? ###

E Major Chord

? ####

Bb Major Chord

? b
b
Eb Major Chord

? bb

Ab Major Chord

? bb
bb
A Minor Chord

E Minor Chord

?#

B Minor Chord

? ##

F# Minor Chord

? ###

C# Minor Chord

? ####

D Minor Chord

G Minor Chord

? b
b

Bonus Hand Coordination Exercises

Exercise in C Major

&c

?c
5

&

13

&
?

&

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in G Major

#
& c

? #c
5

&

&

?#

13

&
?#

?#
9

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in C Major

& c

?c
5

&

&
?

&

13

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in C Major

& 43

? 43

&

&

&

13

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in F Major

3
& b4

? b43

?b

&b

b
&

?b

&b

13

?b

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in C Major

& 43

? 43
5

&

&
?

13

&
?

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Exercise in C Major

& 43

? 43
5

&

13

&
?

&

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in E Minor

#
& c

? #c w
5

&

?#
w

&

?# w

#
&

13

?#
w

w n

Harmony and Melody Studio

#w
w
w

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Exercise in F Major

& bc
? bc

& b

?b

& b

?b

b
&
?b

13

Harmony and Melody Studio

w
w

w
w
w
www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in G Major

#
& c

? #c

& #

?#

#
#
&

?# #

#
#
&

n #

?# #

13

Harmony and Melody Studio

w
w
www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in C Major

&c
?c

&

&
?

13

&
?

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in C Major

& c
?c

&

&
?

13

&
?

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in D Minor

& b43
? b43
5

& b
?b

&b

?b

&b

?b

13

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in F Sharp Minor

### 6
& 8

#
#
? ## 68
###
&

j
#

###
&

# #

?### #
# #
9

?###
n

###
&

13

?### #

#

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in F Sharp Minor

### 6
& 8

#
#
? ## 68
###
& #

?### #
###

&

j
#

# #

?###

#
###
&

13

J #

?### #

j
#
J

# #

j
#

j

J #

# #j

Harmony and Melody Studio

#
www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in E Flat Major

b
6

& b b8

? bb 68
b

b
&

? bb
b

bb
b
&

? bb
b

b
b

b
&

13

? bb
b

nj

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in D Major

#
& # 44

? ## 44

##
&

?##

##
&

?##
##
&

13

?##

# n
# n

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Exercise in D Major

#
& # 44

? ## 44

##
&

?##

##
&

?##
##
&

13

?##

Harmony and Melody Studio

# n

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Exercise in G Minor

b
& b 44
? bb44
b
&b

? bb

b
&b
? bb

? bb

b
&b

13

j
#

Harmony and Melody Studio

j #

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Exercise in G Minor

b
& b 44
? bb4
4
b
b
&

? bb

b
b
&

? bb

b
b
&

13

? bb

#j

# #
nJ

#j

#
J

Harmony and Melody Studio

# #
J

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in B Flat Major

b
& b 43
? bb43
b
&b

b
b
&

b
&b

13

? bb

? bb

? bb

Harmony and Melody Studio

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Exercise in A Major

###c
&

#
? ## c J J J J J J J
J
J
J J
J J J
###
&

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Harmony and Melody Studio

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in B Flat Major

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Harmony and Melody Studio

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in A Major
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Harmony and Melody Studio

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in A Major

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Harmony and Melody Studio

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in D Major

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Harmony and Melody Studio

www.PianoMother.com

Exercise in E Flat Major

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Harmony and Melody Studio

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www.PianoMother.com

Practice Sheet
Name ______________________________________________________________
Date

Minutes Practiced (30 minimum)

REMARKS

Suggestions:
A minimum of 30 minutes daily practice is recommended.
Write down your goals or remarks (scales, chord progression, improvisation, etc.).
Write down what needs to be focused on during the next practice.
Keep the practice sheet in a folder so that you can review often.
10-30 minutes improvisation practice (playing without any sheet music, creative playing),
10-20 minutes, playing from sheet music or lead sheet (this can be classical or any other genre);
this will help improve your sight reading abilities,
5 minutes techniques (play from Hanon, scales, arpeggios, etc.).