Help get my paino 'chops' back into shape

I need some advice on helping get my piano playing back into shape. I was a piano major in college but haven't 'really' been playing piano for the last 4 years. I know the obvious answer is scales, arpeggios. etc, but is there a regiment out there that someone could recommend to help inspire and get back into shape. Any good books that could help clear away the cobwebs faster?

Thanks,

Sounds like you know what to do.

Don't forget daily reading. IIWY, read daily from baroque, classical, romanitic, and modern samplings.

Also, I'd add daily pichna, wieck, czerny, clementi, and/or brahms exercizes, but it all depends on what you have in mind.

I stopped playing for 25+ years and got it all back (and then some) in about 3 years, so with only a 4 year hiatus, you'll probably get it back in 6 months!

Also, you might think about getting a teacher. Nothing makes one practice more than having to demonstrate one's progress.

I would add Hanon to that list. That book used to bore me to tears when I was just starting out, but after several yrs, I've picked it up again and it's really helped improve my technique as well as stamina. Besides that, with maturity, I'm not as damn lazy as I used to be.

I used to use the Brahms. I love the way they really spread the fingers. I seem to have really stiff fingers. I am a great reader though.... but damn the left hand!

Andrew.

Since you mention the Brahms...did you know that he wrote a transcription of the Bach violin Chaconne in d for left-hand piano?

The story is that Clara Schumann hurt her right hand or arm and complained to Johannes that she missed playing music during her convalescence.

Brahms, the dear boy, wrote out this piece for her (and for us).

It is a real challenge for left hand, and after I've read through it, my left hand really feels like it's had a workout.

I'll confess that I also love to play this work with both hands, simply to hear Brahms' treatment of the music.

I used to play it with both hands on the organ when I had a church gig

- Carl Tait