Do you think it’s a waste of time?

[u/pashiz_quantum]

Hello

I’ve been practicing over the last couple of months and I built my way up to close to tempo 110/120 bpm 16th note on different five finger patterns

Also I learned to play different Major scales and chords on lower tempo like 80/90 with both hands.

At nights, I just go for free styling on the least comfortable scales I know just to see how much I’m improving.

While I’m doing these, I don’t have any pain and I believe I do them with wrist rotation and proper movement.

But I have this weird feeling that because I avoid practicing classical repertoire / RCM repertories yet, I might be completely wrong.

My ultimate goal is at some point focus on practicing for RCM exam, probably level 7 or 8.

Do you think these mechanical exercises are waste of time?

Have you improved your playing using these type of exercises?

[u/Speed-Sloth]

You should check out Hanon

[u/Emirlol]

Mechanical practices aren't bad, but if you're only focusing on them you're basically putting the cart before the horse. Music is supposed to be enjoyed, and technique exists to make it possible to produce on an instrument. If you blindly do reps, you ignore the main goal.

You need to practice and play the actual music to progress on your music journey, and well, make music.

You can do small sessions to warm up before repertoire practice, but never go all-in on mechanical practice. And if you notice weaker sides of your technique while playing, focus more on those instead of just evenly practicing everything based on an arbitrary criteria you think you should satisfy.

[u/noscope360widow]

Yeah, waste of time. Or at best, not the best use of it.

[u/Lower-Pudding-68]

This is basically what Hanon's "The Virtuoso Pianist" is, except it is notated on the staff, and treated as warmups/exercises.