The School of Velocity, Opus 299: Complete (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

If this is too intimidating for you, I would start with Czerny -- Practical Method, Op. 599 (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition), which is thinner and simpler than this.

If THAT'S too difficult for you, I would fall back to Preliminary School of Dexterity, Op. 636, which is about as low as you can go and still be playing authentic Czerny that hasn't been watered down.(I don't know why Amazon doesn't have a picture of it:it's certainly not rare or out of print.)

Only after finishing that should you go for the mother lode, the School of Velocity.

All of these Alfred editions are the best:carefully edited and handsomely presented.Palmer didn't simply run those old galleys again:everything's been recomposited and -- importantly for me -- the notes have been made larger where possible.At any rate, it's certainly more readable than that old yellow version everyone seems to own.

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Product Description:
This popular volume offers practical training in well-articulated pianistic passage work, particularly in playing the virtuoso music of the romantic period. In addition to this, each study is a complete music composition, demanding attention to dynamics and phrasing. Students who master Opus 299 have indeed progressed a long way in the "school of velocity." Available in a 112-page complete volume or in two separate books.

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Burgmuller: 25 Progressive Pieces, opus 100 (Book & CD) (Alfred Masterwork Edition: CD Edition) [Paperback] Review

Wow, this book is a treasure. I am taking lesson for 3 years and as an adult, my fall back is speed as I don't have flexible fingers like young kids.I have been doing Hanon trying to strengthen and to keep my fingers flexible, but I get so bored with the monotone.I still am at a beginner/intermediate level (4) and this book is just perfect to learn and practice. This book is definitely great until advanced level, as it will be so enjoyable to play and you will never get bored. All 25 pieces have beautiful melodies and so enjoyable to learn and most importantly...the speed.I listened to the CD and it helps so much to feel the speed; and with such lovely melodies, I could not get bored.This book is sooo worth it to have in your collection.I'm so glad I have it in my collection.
Play on :)

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Product Description:
Burgmuller's most famous work, the 25 Progressive Pieces, are short compositions with descriptive titles. Easier than his Opp. 105 and 109, each selection exposes students to a different technical challenge with the main emphasis on the phrasing, articulation, and dynamics often found in Romantic piano music. The collection includes "Arabesque" and "Ballade," both popular with many early-intermediate pianists.

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Perfect Wrong Note - Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (Softcover) (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

I am a professional musician, a retired piano teacher of 25 years. In October of 2004, I produced my first cd of pre-Baroque pieces into an album called, "Carry the Light."Recently, I found out about "The Perfect Wrong Note" by William Westney from a friend. The book is stunning, progressive and suffice it to say, it will rub some traditionalist the wrong way.Westney totally challenges traditional teaching methods and rightly so. There is a revealing "Question and Answer" section in the book on pp. 95-97 which provides an astute summary of Westney's teaching philosophy. I found the following Q and A challenging to some very traditionalist teachings on using the metronome; "Is it a good idea to use a metronome?"Westney's replies, "Only for short periods, as a check of tempo consistency.If we use it too much we become passive slaves to it, and our inner rhythm stays dormant."Westney emphasizes that playing the piano is a "whole body, whole brain" experience.In terms of Westney's approach being a "feel good" philosophy, nothing could be further from the truth. When asked (p. 97), "Can your approach be simply stated as, "Just don't fret about wrong notes, after all nobody's perfect.?"Westney's response is clearly direct; "No.This isn't a feel good philosophy: it's a pragmatic problem-solving plan along the road to artistry.Control, accuracy, and refinement are still the goals."Westney takes a groundbreaking approach to teaching piano without killing the hope and aspirations of the student.That is to be herald and this work will be deeply respected by teachers willing to take on new and exciting challenges that take heed to an important ethos Westney holds for anyone practicing the piano."As you practice sense that you are taking care of yourself at every moment.Expect musical performing to be fun and feel good.Question any part of it that doesn't feel that way.Think of yourself as a healty athlete. Relax frequently and take stock." (p.227) I can't think of any performing philosophy that is more hope filled than that.

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Product Description:
In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning pianist and noted educator William Westney helps readers discover their own path to the natural, transcendent fulfillment of making music. Drawing on experience, psychological insight, and wisdom ancient and modern, Westney shows how to trust yourself and set your own musicality free. He offers healthy alternatives for lifelong learning and suggests significant change in the way music is taught. For example, playing a wrong note can be constructive, useful, even enlightening. The creator of the acclaimed Un-Master Class workshop also explores the special potential of group work, outlining the basics of his revelatory workshop that has transformed the music experience for participants the world over. Practicing, in Westney's view, is a lively, honest, adventurous, and spiritually rewarding enterprise, and it can (and should) meet with daily success, which empowers us to grow even more. Teachers, professionals, and students of any instrument will benefit from this unique guide, which brings artistic vitality, freedom, and confidence within everyone's reach.

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Masterpieces with Flair!, Book 1 (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

A good compilation of pieces in different styles, great to use approximately after one year of learning.

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Product Description:
Energetic and lively pieces to appeal to students who like fast and sparkling music. The selections are from such masters as Bach, Beethoven, Haydn and Bartok.All pieces are in their original form.Early intermediate to intermediate.

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Czerny Art of Finger Dexterity, Op. 740, Complete" (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

I haven't gone much further in the book, but, based on the few exercises I have gone throu, I feel a great improvement in the security of my fingers to play.

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Product Description:
An intermediate/advanced piano study by Karl Czerny.

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Czerny -- Practical Method, Op. 599 (Complete) (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

A Brilliant Mind That Knows How To Teach...Yes it starts off in small steps....don't despise small beginnings
A person asked Oscar Peterson how he learned to play so fast he said "Czerny ! Czerny ! Czerny"
Who can aurgue with That kind of recommendation? Get the books.... Get the midi's for the books...
Learn to Learn.....have fun

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Product Description:
While Czerny's excellent fingering has been preserved, all unnecessary fingering has been removed by editor Willard A. Palmer. The book begins with lessons on learning the notes and introduces students to the various technical studies of keyboard music. In this edition, the music has been widely spaced for easy reading. 88 pages.

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Technique for the Advancing Pianist (Alfred Masterwork Editions) [Paperback] Review

I use this book for all my students who wish to pursue piano studies at a higher level, particularly those who will become piano performance majors in college. It truly is essential for the advancing pianist because many technical difficulties one encounters throughout Mozart, Beethoven, and some Chopin (and of course, many more composers) is learned here, such as scales in double thirds, rotation, and velocity. Work through every single page and you're well on your way to starting more advanced work in college.

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Product Description:
This practical resource provides foundational tools for scale, chord and arpeggio playing; exercises for developing precision, speed, agility and clarity of tone; and exercises and etudes that focus on a variety of technical challenges.

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Piano Repertoire / Level 1 (David Carr Glover Piano Library) [Paperback] Review

I got what I wanted in a very timely manner.I could not ask for more.

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Product Description:
The REPERTOIRE books are written to supplement and reinforce the music fundamentals that the student is learning at this level of advancement. They may be used with any Piano Course or Library. The books of the Primer Level and Levels 1 and 2 present familiar folk songs and original solos. Level 1 of 6.

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Pianist's Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature [Paperback] Review

This book would be particularly useful for piano teachers or for adult students of piano who are trying to expand their repertoire.It would be less useful for an advanced pianist (which I am not), as the rating scale is too simplistic and many well-known, but very difficult, works are not included.
There is a great selection of pieces from both well-known and very obscure composers, and includes virtually every significant teaching piece that one might think of.Each piece is graded in difficulty from 1-10.The grading is not as detailed as that used by Wolters, where each piece is given a separate grade for both technical and musical difficulty, but the grading is quite accurate and helpful in selecting pieces that you can actually play, if you're not a top-notch pianist.The biggest advantage of this book over other piano repertoire books is the very extensive coverage of twentieth-century music, including even some pieces for prepared piano, so it's a good place to look for some new stuff to play to annoy your friends and neighbors.
A minor weakness of the book is the lack of headings at the top of each page, which makes it sometimes irritating to use as a reference, since you may have to page forward or backwards several pages to figure out where you are in the alphabetical listing of composers.The typesetting and page layout make it look a bit amateurish, although it is carefully edited and doesn't contain a lot of typographical errors.

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Product Description:
This reference book is an invaluable resource for teachers, students and performers for evaluating and selecting piano solo literature. Concise and thoroughly researched, thousands of works, from the Baroque through the Contemporary periods, have been graded and evaluated in detail. Includes an alphabetical list of composers, explanations of works and much more.

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Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Piano (Teach Yourself Series) [Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD] Review

This book is great for people just learning to play piano.I have a keyboard at home that I practice on.It takes you step-by-step through each phase/step, and one lesson builds on the next.I m learning a lot with this book- highly recommended.

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Product Description:
First step: Buy this. Everything after that is pretty self-explanatory.

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Daily Technical Studies for Piano (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

This classic is one of the best piano exercise books you can buy. It covers all the major techical problems of the piano. To name a few: finger independence, chord and scale passages, hands crossing, extensions, wrist vs finger action, etc.

Please note, however, this is not an easy book. That happens very much because (but that is one of the book's great advantages) the exercises are made to be practised in all the scales, contrary to a book like "Hanon", so I would recomend it to any pianist who has a two-three years experience and has made the first part of "Hanon" exercises.

Many exercises are the most boring you can get, but belive me, it is worth the effort. Just try this book for a week and you will certantly see a difference.

This is also a great work for correcting hand problems like bent fingers or streched out ones, bad wrist position, etc.

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Product Description:
This new Kalmus Edition offers pianists a complete set of technical exercises, from simple warm-ups through more advanced studies. Also includes a compendium of scales in various forms, a modulatory section, and a glossary of musical terms.

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Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves (Dover Books on Music, Music History) [Paperback] Review

It gives us a cross section of the views of the great ( some not so great ) artists as to how they see the piano, pianist(s) and piano music.
So Gilels never quite recognised Neuhaus as his teacher; Bolet had high esteem for Moiseiwitsch other than Rachmaninoff; Arrau was an admirer of Edwin Fischer; Kocsis upholding Richter while despising ( and he is not alone) Horowitz for he made use of music and composers instead of serving them, he also refers us to the music of Bartok; Pogorelich telling us the fixing of the piano competitions result; Ashkenazy touching on the Russian artists' soft spot and a lot more... Amusing as well as instructive. Almost a must for all serious pianist.

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Product Description:
Fascinating interviews with 25 renowned pianists: Ashkenazy, Badura-Skoda, Bolet, Brendel, de Larrocha, Gould, Horowitz, Ohlsson, Tureck, Watts, 15 more. Revealing, candid thoughts about themselves, their careers, music they play, life of a concert pianist. "Mach's interviews will enhance the pleasure of any concertgoer."-People. Introduction by Sir Georg Solti. 51 black-and-white photographs.


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Clementi: Six Sonatinas, opus 36 (Book & CD) (Alfred CD Edition) [Paperback] Review

Nice intermediate level sonatinas in easy keys.Disappointed that no metronome markings came with the tempi.

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Product Description:
This edition of the "Six Sonatinas, Op. 36" is based on the first printing, published by Clementi himself. In addition to Clementi's own articulations, fingerings and ornaments presented in dark print, additional performance suggestions by Dr. Palmer appear in light gray print. These guidelines were drawn from Clementi's companion work, "Introduction to the Art of Playing on the Pianoforte", first published in 1801. The Alfred Masterwork Library CD Editions conveniently combine each exceptional volume with a professionally recorded CD that is sure to inspire artistic performances.

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Playing the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, along with the two books of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, form the summit of the pianist's art.These are works that all pianists must confront and, to a greater or lesser extent, master.The greatest pianists, the true artists, indelibly stamp these works with their own personalities and performances.The rest of us struggle to learn them well enough not to embarrass ourselves in front of others and, even more importantly, to satisfy our own inner drives to make music and to make this glorious music our own.Robert Taub's book, "Playing the Beethoven Sonatas," is a welcome addition to those books that seek to enlighten other pianists--both professional and dedicated amateur--on how best to perform these superb but very difficult compositions.
It may be useful to point out initially what this book is not:It is not a musicological analyses of the Beethoven sonatas.It is not a Beethoven biography, although Taub does not hesitate to use events from the Master's life to illustrate his performance suggestions.It's not a collection of "war stories," or inspiring anecdotes for struggling pianists or harried piano teachers.It's not Taub's memoirs.And it is not a substitute for Charles Rosen's masterpiece, Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion.Indeed, as another reviewer has noted, Taub is best seen as complementary to Rosen.As I've noted in other reviews, I consider Rosen to be one of America's true public intellectuals; his vast erudition and wit grace every page he writes.But these same qualities sometimes obscure the point he makes; they often overwhelm the dedicated amateur pianist who's seeking a quick solution to a phrasing or fingering problem.Taub, on the other hand, writes not only with precision and clarity; he writes for the working pianist.While it is incorrect to call this work a textbook, Taub's careful, precise, measure-by-measure suggestions as to touch, pedaling, dynamics, tempi, fingerings, and tone come close to being just that.What separates this work from the mere textbook is the very personal nature of Taub's suggestions.It is obvious he has lived with the Beethoven sonatas for most of his life, struggling over decades to discover and lay bare their inner meaning.In this work, he makes the reader privy to that struggle.
And what a struggle it is!Beethoven is notorious in his disdain for the technical difficulties his sonatas present to amateur and professional alike.I have three different editions of the Beethoven sonatas from which I perform: an urtext edition, the Artur Schnabel edition, and the Bulow edition published by Schirmer.In many places, these editions can only agree to disagree, even as to the fundamentals.The value of Taub's book is that, for a fraction of the price of conservatory training, the aspiring pianist (and here I include myself) may find out how one of the greatest living Beethoven interpreters goes about his work.Where is the pianist who would not find such help invaluable?
Other reviewers have commented on the structure of this book; there's no need to repeat that information here.Taub is scrupulous in his reverence for the printed text, insofar as he can determine what the authoritative text is.Among the most useful features of this work is Taub's careful edition-by-edition analysis of problematic passages in Beethoven's sonatas.The author usually provides a satisfactory resolution of the textual problem he highlights, in the process imparting valuable information not only as to correct performance practices, but also giving advice as to how the reader might resolve other textual conflicts she might encounter.
In the last analysis, it is Taub's reverence for the text, his scrupulous attention to the tiniest detail, that makes this book so valuable.By this, I mean the difference between telling a pianist to play a passage with feeling, and showing the pianist how she may best articulate and communicate the deep feelings that Beethoven's music inevitably engenders.An example:the opening chord of the Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13 in Cm, is marked "fp."How to play it? Taub tells exactly how to do so.His solution involves touch, pedaling, sensitivity to dynamics, and careful listening; he tells you exactly how to apply these tools to achieve the desired result.And his explanations are clear and precise, easily understood by anyone with score in hand and a piano at the ready.Here it is obvious that Taub has not only had quality instruction, he himself is a master pedagogue.
Which leads me to my last observations:First, this book isn't bedtime or casual reading.You need to have a good, reliable edition of the Beethoven sonatas at hand, or at least the sonata(s) on which you are working.It's helpful if the edition is numbered by measure; otherwise, take the time to number each measure in your score.You will save yourself a lot of frustration.Second, your work with this book will be more rewarding if you have access to a piano that is capable of replicating the full panoply of effects Beethoven's sonatas demand--in other words, it works best with a good grand piano.Consoles or (shudder!) spinets or (double shudder!!) electronic keyboards just won't cut it.If you're talented enough to play Beethoven sonatas, make your experience more rewarding and play them on a quality piano.
Amazon's rating system only goes to five stars.This book deserves unlimited stars--the diligent pianist will find a lifetime of help in this book.Robert Taub is to be commended for producing such a fine volume, and for his unselfishness in sharing his formidable talent and considerable investment of time and energy with all of those desiring to climb the summit of the pianist's art.Bravissimo!

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Product Description:
Acclaimed pianist Robert Taub offers the insights of a passionate musician who performs all 32 of Beethoven's well-loved piano sonatas in concert worldwide, bringing a "fresh perspective on Beethoven," as the New York Times put it. In this book, he shares his intimate understanding of these works with listeners and players alike.

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Alfred's Group Piano for Adults Student Book, Bk 2 [Plastic Comb] Review

I have taught from this book this year and also used the first edition for several years.This is a good book with lots to recommend it to the teacher and student.The multiple-key approach dovetails very well with college theory courses.The instruction in lead sheet and figured bass harmonization is also excellent.Solo repertoire pieces have been thoughtfully integrated and offer the teacher and student plenty of choices.The only drawback I have found, from a teacher's perspective, is that the presentation of scales is, in my view, unsound.Stressing two octave scales and arpeggios at this level is much too advanced.It would be better to spread the presentation of scales out more (one per week after they are first introduced) and require only one octave.Of course, a good teacher can adapt the scale presentation, but with so many other excellent features, I think that the authors could easily address this (maybe in the next edition).Also, since this is used as a college text, it is preferable to teach natural and melodic minor scales and fingerings too.But other than this slight quibble, I highly recommend this great book, which is useful for the entire first year of piano study.

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Product Description:
Alfred's Group Piano for Adults, Book 2 is designed for non-keyboard music majors with little or no keyboard experience. Upon completion of the course, students will have a strong grasp of functional skills, keyboard technique and musical styles. The text is easy to use, containing 30 units, each designed to be completed in one week.It is fully supported by CDs and MIDI disks with over 500 accompaniments.

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Music by the Masters [Paperback] Review

I used this book about 20 years ago as a student.Now, I use this book with my students. It is a great book full of short classical studies by prolific composers of the Baroque-Romantic Eras.This book contains a wide variety of music selections that teach various and sundry musical techniques and articulations.Great for the young pianist who is trying to bridge the gap into the Classical literature.

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Product Description:
This consistent top-seller includes 65 works by these famous composers: C. P. E. Bach, J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Grieg, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schubert , Schumann and Tchaikovsky. Excellent, motivating literature for the intermediate pianist.

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Play Piano Today! - Level 1: Play Today Plus Pack (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method) [Paperback] Review

Play Piano Today! - Level 1 (The Ultimate Self-Teaching Method), comes with a book and audio CD.The book does a fair job of showing some of the basics, but it could have been a lot better.Right off the bat they start giving you musical pieces to play, but they don't tell you how to do it.This might be ok, if you knew how to play years ago and wanted a refresher.But if you have never played the piano before, this book will not show you how to do it.Likewise, the CD starts right out of the gate telling you to play things, but doesn't first tell you how to do it.Overall, I would call this product far from the Ultimate Self-Teaching Method, or a complete guide to the basics, which is how they bill themselves.

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Product Description:
Start playing piano today! With this book/CD pack, absolute beginners can teach themselves: chords and scales, left- and right-hand fingerings, bass and treble clef notation and more, plus how to play 5 great songs: Limbo Rock * Save the Last Dance for Me * Takin' Care of Business * Wonderful Tonight * Y.M.C.A..

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Art of Piano Playing [Paperback] Review

I read somewhere that if you can take one good idea away from reading a book, consider the experience a success. Call me greedy, but I expected more practical advice from "The Art of Piano Playing". The author's intent is to show how the central nervous system plays a primary role in the learning/performing process. He makes his case with an historical survey of earlier schools of thought concerning piano technique that, according to the author, culminated in an impasse in the early twentieth century. As scientific research into brain functioning progressed, the tools were now in place to make a case for the neurobiological basis of piano technique. What this boils down to is, essentially: 1) the aural image one creates in the mind of a musical composition is paramount and the urge to recreate that image will drive the learning and performing process. 2) practice slowly to establish and engrain neurological connections. 3) be flexible in your technique regarding fingering, arm position, etc. 4) the most effective learning is accompanied by intense concentration.
I've simplified, but this is what I walked away with. Unfortunately, the author spends more time justifying his theoretical argument than describing the practical application of his ideas. The book was written in 1967 when perhaps these thoughts were more radical. If you're intrigued and enjoy a heavy scientific bent, this book might be for you, but if you're looking for detailed practical advice on piano technique, I'm afraid other authors have done it better.

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Product Description:
So many of the great pianists and teachers have come out of Poland and Russia (Rubinstein, Anton as well as Arthur, Leschetizky, Paderewski,the Lhevinnes, Gilels, Richter, and others), yet we know little abouttheir methods of learning and teaching. George Kochevitsky in THE ART OF PIANO PLAYING supplies some important sources of information previouslypreviously unavailable in this country. Russian sources alone occupy fourcolumns of his bibliography on 'History and Theory of Pianism.'Additionally there are six columns of German sources and seven columns ofsources in English. From these sources, tempered by this own thinking, Kochevitsky has formulated a scientific approach that can solve most

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Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered [Paperback] Review

This book, originally published as two separate volumes in 1906 and 1907, is a collection of articles Hofmann wrote as a regular feature of the LADIES HOME JOURNAL.Although Josef Hofmann was himself a phenominal talent, he offers thoughtful answers to the simplest of piano questions, and guides the reader with a practical, common sense approach.Most of the advise in this little book is timeless, and the pictures of Hofmann himself demonstrating correct and incorrect positions of the hand and body make this a pedagogical gem that his admirers will cherish.

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Product Description:
Great pianist-teacher's advice and specific pointers on piano technique, interpretation, performance.


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FastTrack Keyboard Songbook 1 - Level 1 (Fasttrack Series) [Paperback] Review

This book is great.Just remember to shift your hands as indicated by the finger numbers and be sure to master those notes as they teach you before moving on too fast.But you'll be surprised how fast you learn.But everything in this book is on playing notes and scales on Treble Clef.There is no bass clef in this book or the second (Keyboard Chords & Scales)... I just bought it 3 weeks ago and am loving it.The book does teach you music notes.It just gets confusing when it renumbers the notes (not explaining that your hand is moving over a key for a while and then back again.They make it sound like you just reach your finger while keeping your hand in place.This is not true after the first page of learning A and B notes in Middle C.)But I am wonderfully surprised at how fast you pick up and start playing.I never read music before and now I am.That in itself is amazing.

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Product Description:
A supplement to the FastTrack instruction books, this great songbook/CD pack features 8 great songs in rock score format: Brown Eyed Girl * Great Balls of Fire * I Want to Hold Your Hand * Oh, Pretty Woman * Wild Thing * Wonderful Tonight * You Really Got Me * Your Song.

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