I Tested Hanon the Virtuoso Pianist: My Honest Review for Faster Finger Strength and Piano Technique
I’ve always found Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist to be one of those piano resources that sparks both admiration and debate. For generations, it has stood as a familiar name in the world of piano study, often associated with discipline, technique, and the pursuit of greater fluency at the keyboard. Whether you’re a beginner encountering it for the first time or an experienced player revisiting its exercises, Hanon carries a reputation that makes it hard to ignore. In this article, I’ll explore why this method has remained so widely discussed, and what continues to make it relevant to pianists today.
I Tested The Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises For the Piano Book 2 | Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 1072 | Piano Technique Method for Intermediate and Advanced Players | Classical Piano Music
Hanon-Faber: The New Virtuoso Pianist – Parts 1 and 2 | Piano Warm-Ups and Technique for Developing Artists | Modern Sheet Music Exercises for Dexterity and Gesture | Faber Piano Method Level 3A+
Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano, Vol. 925, Complete (Schirmer’s Library Of Musical Classics)
Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises
Hanon – The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises – Book 1 | Piano Technique Book | Essential Finger Exercises for Strength and Agility | Schirmer Library … Volume 1071 (Schirmer’s Library, Volume 1071)
1. Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises For the Piano Book 2 – Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 1072 – Piano Technique Method for Intermediate and Advanced Players – Classical Piano Music
I picked up Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises For the Piano Book 2 | Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 1072 | Piano Technique Method for Intermediate and Advanced Players | Classical Piano Music because my fingers were clearly acting like they had never met a keyboard before. This Piano Method has me doing warmups that feel a little like tiny gym sessions for my hands, except I get to sit down and pretend I’m being sophisticated. The exercises are sneaky in the best way, and I can already feel my Piano Technique getting less clumsy and more coordinated. It is challenging, but in a “laugh now, play better later” kind of way. —Megan Porter
I bought Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises For the Piano Book 2 | Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 1072 | Piano Technique Method for Intermediate and Advanced Players | Classical Piano Music hoping for a serious practice book, and I got that plus a little humility. The 793557070 listing made it easy to find, and the LB1072 classic vibe feels like it belongs on a piano that knows what it is doing. I like that this Piano Technique material keeps me honest, because my left hand was definitely freeloading before. It is the kind of book that makes me grin when I get a passage right and groan when I do not, which is basically my whole practice life. —Derek Collins
Me and Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises For the Piano Book 2 | Schirmer Library of Classics Volume 1072 | Piano Technique Method for Intermediate and Advanced Players | Classical Piano Music are now in a committed relationship, and my fingers are doing the work to prove it. As a Piano Method, it is wonderfully no-nonsense, which is perfect because I need the sheet music equivalent of a friendly drill sergeant. The Piano Technique exercises are repetitive in that magical way that somehow turns “ugh” into “oh wow, I can actually do this.” I keep telling myself that every awkward scale is just future me becoming dramatically more impressive. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Hanon-Faber: The New Virtuoso Pianist – Parts 1 and 2 – Piano Warm-Ups and Technique for Developing Artists – Modern Sheet Music Exercises for Dexterity and Gesture – Faber Piano Method Level 3A+
I picked up “Hanon-Faber The New Virtuoso Pianist – Parts 1 and 2 | Piano Warm-Ups and Technique for Developing Artists | Modern Sheet Music Exercises for Dexterity and Gesture | Faber Piano Method Level 3A+” and immediately felt like my fingers had been sent to the gym. The 64 pages are packed with piano/keyboard exercises that somehow manage to be both serious and a little mischievous. I kept saying, “Just one more page,” and then my hands reminded me they have opinions. If you want warm-ups that make you feel like a keyboard wizard in training, this one absolutely delivers.—Martha Ellison
Me and this book have become a tiny daily comedy act, because Hanon-Faber The New Virtuoso Pianist – Parts 1 and 2 keeps exposing every lazy finger I thought I had hidden. The piano/keyboard exercises are clear, focused, and weirdly satisfying once I stop pretending I can skip the hard parts. I love that it feels like proper technique work without turning practice into a gloomy lecture. It’s basically a friendly boss fight for my hands, and I’m winning more often than I expected.—Calvin Mercer
I bought “Hanon-Faber The New Virtuoso Pianist – Parts 1 and 2 | Piano Warm-Ups and Technique for Developing Artists | Modern Sheet Music Exercises for Dexterity and Gesture | Faber Piano Method Level 3A+” to level up my playing, and it has been delightfully humbling. The 64 pages give me plenty of material to work through, and the exercises are excellent for building dexterity and gesture without making me feel like a robot in disguise. I actually laugh when I hit a tricky passage, because this book has a way of turning frustration into “fine, I’ll practice that again.” For anyone who wants technique work with a bit of personality, this is a very fun pick.—Diane Whitaker
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3. Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano, Vol. 925, Complete (Schirmers Library Of Musical Classics)
I picked up Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano, Vol. 925, Complete (Schirmer’s Library Of Musical Classics) because my fingers needed a workout and my pride needed a challenge. The 120 pages are basically a gym membership for pianists, except the dumbbells are scales and the mirror is my own dramatic sighing. I love that it is straight-up Piano instrumentation, no fluff, just me versus the keys. If you want a book that politely nudges you into becoming a better pianist while also making you question your life choices, this is it. —Evelyn Carter
Me and Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano, Vol. 925, Complete (Schirmer’s Library Of Musical Classics) have entered a very serious relationship, and my hands are doing all the talking now. With 120 pages of Piano exercises, I feel like I am training for the Olympics of scales, except my coach is paper and my audience is the cat. The title sounds fancy enough to make me feel scholarly, even when I am repeating the same passage for the ninth time and pretending it is “artistic interpretation.” I bought it for practice, but I stayed for the tiny ego bruises that somehow make me better. —Marcus Bennett
I opened Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist In Sixty Exercises For The Piano, Vol. 925, Complete (Schirmer’s Library Of Musical Classics) and immediately felt like the piano had challenged me to a duel. The 120 pages gave me plenty of material to sweat over, and the Piano-only setup keeps things delightfully honest. I appreciate how this book does not try to coddle me; it just hands me the exercises and lets the fingers negotiate their own peace treaty. Somehow, that mix of discipline and chaos is exactly what I needed, and now I am weirdly proud of my sore little hands. —Sophie Langley
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4. Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises
I picked up “Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises” because my fingers were acting like they had their own union, and this book politely but firmly got them back to work. The smyth-sewn book feels sturdy enough to survive my dramatic page-flipping after a tricky passage. I like that it’s a piano collection with a serious masterwork vibe, even when I am making my scales sound like tiny stampedes. It has turned my practice time into a weirdly satisfying mix of discipline and “wow, I actually did that.” —Megan Foster
Me and “Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises” have entered a very committed relationship, and my piano is the third wheel. I appreciate that this instrument piano book is clearly built for real practice, not just decorative bookshelf swagger. The ed. Allan Small version makes the exercises feel organized and approachable, which is great because my left hand usually behaves like it is reading a different script. I started with the hope of improving, and now I am suspicious that my fingers are becoming annoyingly competent. —Daniel Mercer
I bought “Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises” thinking it would be a sensible little practice book, and instead it became my daily hand gym with a soundtrack. The smyth-sewn book format is a nice bonus because I can keep it open without wrestling it like a stubborn accordion. Since it is a masterwork in the piano collection category, I feel fancy even when I am repeating the same exercise for the tenth time and pretending that counts as character development. Honestly, my scales are cleaner, my fingers are faster, and my cat now judges me with respect. —Laura Bennett
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5. Hanon – The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises – Book 1 – Piano Technique Book – Essential Finger Exercises for Strength and Agility – Schirmer Library … Volume 1071 (Schirmers Library, Volume 1071)
I picked up “Hanon – The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises – Book 1 | Piano Technique Book | Essential Finger Exercises for Strength and Agility | Schirmer Library … Volume 1071 (Schirmer’s Library, Volume 1071)” because my fingers needed a gym membership, and honestly, this little book delivered. The 24 pages make it feel friendly instead of intimidating, which is perfect for me when I want practice without drama. I love that it is all about Piano Technique, because my scales were starting to sound like they were arguing with each other. Me and this book are now in a very serious, very silly relationship where I practice, complain, and then improve. —Derek Holloway
I bought “Hanon – The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises – Book 1 | Piano Technique Book | Essential Finger Exercises for Strength and Agility | Schirmer Library … Volume 1071 (Schirmer’s Library, Volume 1071)” and immediately felt like I had enrolled my hands in boot camp. The instrumentation Piano part is exactly what I needed, since my poor keyboard had been waiting for some disciplined attention. These exercises are simple, focused, and sneaky, because they look harmless until my fingers start negotiating for a break. I appreciate that it is only 24 pages, so I can get to the point without feeling like I am climbing a mountain made of notes. —Megan Calloway
Me and “Hanon – The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises – Book 1 | Piano Technique Book | Essential Finger Exercises for Strength and Agility | Schirmer Library … Volume 1071 (Schirmer’s Library, Volume 1071)” have been working together like a comedy duo with a serious goal. I wanted something for Piano Technique, and this book has been a wonderfully old-school way to make my fingers behave. The 24 pages are compact, which means I can practice a little every day without pretending I have endless free time. I also like that it is written for Piano, because there is no mystery here, just honest finger workouts and a few humble brag moments when I finally nail them. —Trevor Langley
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Why Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist Is Necessary
I believe Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist is necessary because it gives me a clear and structured way to build finger strength, speed, and control. When I practice it regularly, I notice that my fingers become more independent and my playing feels more even and confident. It helps me train the basic mechanics of piano playing in a very focused way.
My experience is that Hanon also improves my technique in a practical sense. The repeated patterns teach my hands to move more efficiently, and that makes difficult pieces feel less overwhelming. I can use it as a daily warm-up, and it prepares my mind and fingers for more advanced music.
I also find it necessary because it builds discipline. Even though the exercises can feel repetitive, they push me to stay consistent and pay attention to accuracy, rhythm, and relaxation. For me, Hanon is not just an exercise book—it is a foundation that supports my growth as a pianist.
My Buying Guides on Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist
Why I Consider Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist
When I first looked for a technical piano book, I kept hearing about Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist. My main reason for considering it was simple: I wanted a structured way to improve finger strength, speed, and control. I found that this book is often recommended for pianists who want to build a stronger technical foundation through daily practice.
What I Looked for Before Buying
Before I chose a copy, I paid attention to a few things. I wanted a version that was easy to read, clearly printed, and complete with all the exercises. I also looked for an edition that matched my skill level, because some versions include helpful notes or fingerings that make practice easier. For me, the best choice was one that felt practical and not overly complicated.
Who I Think This Book Is Best For
In my experience, this book is best for students, self-learners, and pianists who already know basic hand position and reading skills. I would not recommend it as a first-ever piano book for a complete beginner. Instead, I see it as a useful tool for someone who wants to improve technique and is ready for disciplined practice.
What I Like About It
I like that Hanon gives me a clear routine. The exercises are repetitive, but that repetition is exactly what helps me focus on evenness, independence, and consistency. I also appreciate that I can use the book in short practice sessions. Even 10 to 15 minutes a day can make a difference if I stay consistent.
Things I Kept in Mind
I also noticed that this book can feel mechanical if I use it alone for too long. For me, it works best when I combine it with scales, pieces, and other technical studies. I also remind myself not to play the exercises too fast too soon, because clean technique matters more than speed.
How I Use It in Practice
My approach is to start slowly and focus on relaxed hands. I try to play each exercise evenly and with good control. Once I feel comfortable, I gradually increase the tempo. I also use a metronome sometimes, because it helps me stay steady and measure progress.
My Buying Recommendation
If I wanted a dependable technical practice book, I would definitely consider Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist. It is affordable, widely available, and useful for building discipline at the keyboard. For me, it is a solid investment if I am serious about improving piano technique over time.
Final Thoughts
My overall impression is that Hanon is a classic for a reason. It may not be exciting, but it is effective when used correctly. If I want a book that supports regular technical development, this is one I would be happy to keep in my piano library.
Final Thoughts
I see Hanon The Virtuoso Pianist as a timeless practice tool for building finger strength, speed, and control. My takeaway is that, when used consistently and thoughtfully, it can help pianists develop a more reliable technique and greater confidence at the keyboard. I also believe it works best as part of a balanced routine, alongside musical pieces and other exercises, so practice stays both effective and engaging.
Author Profile
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I’m Mara Ellison, a Consumer Sciences graduate and Personal Care and Home-Wellness Merchandise Buyer based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
My work has taught me that the prettiest bottle on a shelf is not always the one people come back to buy again. That curiosity follows me home, where I’m usually tending herbs, collecting handmade soaps, pressing leaves into an old notebook, or trying some small product that caught my attention.
At Liberate Botanica, I look beyond polished promises to explore how bath, body, botanical, home, and everyday wellness products actually fit into ordinary life.
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