(Amadeus). This holistic approach to the keyboard, based on a sound understanding of the relationship between physical function and musical purpose, is an invaluable resource for pianists and teachers. Professor Fink explains his ideas and demonstrates his innovative developmental exercises that set the pianist free to express the most profound musical ideas. HARDCOVER.
ON PIANO PLAYING begins with a revealing introduction to the fundamental relationships among motions and emotions, the keyboard itself and the human performing mechanism - the physical equipment that is used to make music. Here Sandor explains the role each plays in performance, pointing out typical mistakes and misconceptions that get in the way of virtually every pianist. He then discusses the basic technical patterns: free fall, scales and arpeggios, rotation, staccato, and thrust. Aided by carefully designed exercises, he shows how to execute physical movements to build muscle tone, sharpen coordination, and increase strength and flexibility. The exercises are based on common-sense principles of anatomy and physiology. Sandor next applies these patterns to the classic repertoire, showing how to play the exposition of Beethoven's WALDSTEIN sonata, for example. The emphasis in this section is on simplicity of motion and movement, and on ways to integrate motions to optimal effect - how to identify the technical patterns of a score and put them in the service of musical interpretation. No pianist, Sandor demonstrates, need suffer fatigue or exhaustion from playing a difficult piece. He shows that strength alone is not enough; the ability to use different muscles of the upper arm - is essential if practice is to be something more than a mechanical warming-up exercise. Special attention is given to problems of interpretation and performance as well: pedalling, variants, the development of precise musical diction and a singing piano tone, and much more. And he explores the common psychological challenges of public performance as well. Complete with line drawings, photographs, and many musical examples, ON PIANO PLAYING provides the means for mastering the complexities and intricacies of good musicianship. It offers an accessible, intriguing, and effective program for developing the fundamental skills that are the building blocks of good music-making.
This time-honored series, the technical cornerstone of the Frances Clark Library, is designed for use with each of the six levels of core materials. The books remain unique for their comprehensive and systematic preparation for all the technical problems encountered in the piano repertoire which the student plays at each of the corresponding levels.
(Faber Piano Adventures ). Book 1 covers fundamental rhythms, all the notes of the grand staff, C position, G position. Contents include: Aloha Oe * Amazing Grace * Bagpipes * Bus Stop Boogie * Camptown Races * Chant of the Monk * Chant of the Monks * Chinese Dragon * Chord Crossings * Dreamscape * Eine Kleine Nachtmusik * English Minuet * Fife and Drums * Forest Drums * French Minuet.
This well-known pianist and teacher's guide to sound piano technique covers tone production, fingering, pedaling, chords, sight-reading, and more. Its 63 musical excerpts include works by such masters as Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Liszt. Numerous exercises, complemented by 64 black-and-white photographs, demonstrate a variety of technical, stylistic, and musical approaches.
This easy step-by-step method emphasizes correct playing habits and note reading through interval recognition. Lesson Book 2 continues where Level 1B finishes. This book introduces dotted half notes and dotted quarter notes, plus intervals of 6ths, 7ths and octaves. Teaches greater movement of the hands, including crossing two over one and scalework. Students will also learn more about triads, primary chords, and blocked and broken chords. Songs Include: 18th Century Dance * Alouette * Blue Scales * Calypso Carnival * The Can-Can * Cockles and Mussels * The Galway Piper * Get Away! * Got Lotsa Rhythm * Kum-ba-yah! * Lavender's Blue * London Bridge * Lone Star Waltz * Malaguena * Nick Nack Paddy Wack * Ode to Joy * Oh! Susanna! * On the Bridge at Avignon * Our Special Waltz * Prelude * Red River Valley * Sarasponda * Square Dance * When You Grow Up * Why Am I Blue?
The Technic is Fun series offers piano students a series of graded studies for the development of technic, style, and musicianship. These studies reinforce the technical requirements found in method books and in standard piano repertory. The etudes found in this series not only build technic and musicality but have been carefully selected to provide refreshing recital repertoire as well as to develop a strong musical and technical foundation.
Designed to coordinate page-by-page with the Lesson Books, each Theory Book contains enjoyable games and quizzes that reinforce the principles presented in the Lesson Books. Students can increase their musical understanding while they are away from the keyboard.
