Hanon Exercise No. 56: fingering, tempo and how to practice it

Hanon Exercise No. 56 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 97 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	C–C–D–D–E–E–F–F–G–G–A–A–B–B–C–C
Left hand	C–C–D–D–E–E–F–F–G–G–A–A–B–B–C–C

■ 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

Don't start this part until you have mastered the previous two.
In double notes and octaves the wrist stays loose: if it stiffens, stop.
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.

Composer	Charles-Louis Hanon (1819–1900)
Work	The Virtuoso Pianist, Part III (Nos. 44–60): exercices du virtuose
Difficulty	6/10 · Intermediate
Key	C major
Time signature	4/4
Bars	97
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 40 · practice ♩ = 50 · target ♩ = 60
Where the target tempo comes from	tempo marked in the score (♩ = 60): consistent with its dominant note value (sixteenth note, 4.0 notes/s). Not documented as the composer's metronome mark.
Transposable	yes, to all 12 keys
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Hanon died in 1900

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