Hanon Exercise No. 44: fingering, tempo and how to practice it

Hanon Exercise No. 44 is part of “The Virtuoso Pianist, Part III (Nos. 44–60): exercices du virtuose” by Charles-Louis Hanon (1819–1900). Main focus: the greatest mechanical challenges. This part contains repeated notes, double notes, scales in thirds and in octaves, and tremolos; the content of each number will be confirmed when it is transcribed. In our transcription it is in C major, in 4/4 time, and 38 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 40 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 50 and work up to the target of ♩ = 60. Difficulty 6/10 (intermediate).

The pattern and its fingering

First bar of our transcription, note by note, with the fingering the app shows.

■ right hand (finger above) · ■ left hand (finger below)

What it trains

• The greatest mechanical challenges. This part contains repeated notes, double notes, scales in thirds and in octaves, and tremolos; the content of each number will be confirmed when it is transcribed.
• Wrist flexibility and stamina.

How to practice it

1. Don't start this part until you have mastered the previous two.
2. In double notes and octaves the wrist stays loose: if it stiffens, stop.
3. Keep sessions short: these exercises tire the hand a lot.

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 40 → ♩ = 45 → ♩ = 50 → ♩ = 55 → ♩ = 60. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.

All 60 exercises are in the complete Hanon list; the method, in how to practice Hanon.