On Piano Playing

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 is the second book I the Complete Piano Player course and is every bit as rewarding as the first. You will learn how to play songs by Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, The Beatles and more, while introducing new notes for both hands, extending past the range of the original five-finger position. Letter names will appear alongside new notes only. Carefully follow the lessons and you will find you have learned all about accidentals, chord symbols, dotted rhythms and wrist staccato, as well as having increased your repertoire and grown as a musician Remember playing little and often is the best way to make rapid progress and become the complete piano player. Songlist: - A Hard Days Night [The Beatles] - Bright Eyes [Art Garfunkel] - By The Time I Get To Phoenix [Glen Campbell] - Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) [Trad.] - Guantanamera [Trad.] - He'll Have To Go [Jim reeves] - Laughing Samba [Edmundo Ros] - Let Him Go, Let Him Tarry [Trad.] - Let It Be [The Beatles] - Liebestraum [Liszt] - My Own True Love (from Gone With the Wind) - Plaisir D'amour [Martini] - Puff The Magic Dragon [Peter, Paul & Mary] - Sailing [Colin Downs] - Silent Night [Trad.] - Take Me Home Country Roads [John Denver] - The Winner Takes It All [ABBA] - Those Lazy Crazy Days Of Summer [Nat king Cole] - Under The Bridges Of Paris [Dean Martin] - What Kind Of Fool Am I? - William Tell Overture – Theme [Rossini] - Wooden Heart [Elvis Presley]

100 Different Ways to play the same song. Piano students learn 100 fun left hand patterns to take any music and change it up 100 different ways. Also included in the book is the FUN FAKEBOOK which includes 100 piano pieces in facebook format where the melody (Right Hand - treble clef) and the given chords for each measure are shown. The students can then fake or make up a left hand pattern to go along with the melody.

"This classic was written by a student of Godowsky and legendary piano teacher whose practical advice on tone, technique, teaching, and other subjects is seasoned with personal experiences and leavened with humor"--

Reprint; originally published: Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1927.

Written at the height of his career, this little book by the "inward poet of the piano" is a clear statement of principles based on his lifelong experience in performance and teaching.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Book 5 of this popular series will teach you new skills and techniques while reinforcing skills already learned. You will learn more about phrasing and how dynamics in music can transform your playing. Four new keys are introduced and new left hand techniques are introduced.