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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The Young Pianist, Opus 823, Complete (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

I think the other negative review here misses the point. The work is titled "The Young Pianist," and includes simple pieces intended for beginners. I'm an adult trying to improve my sight reading, and I need lots of tuneful material that's easy enough for me to sight read fluently with confidence. I don't want a lot of counterpoint, harmonic complexity, tricky work for the left hand, or anything else that makes the music harder to play. I think this book will take you over time from wherever you are to a point of greater mastery. If you want more challenging material, there's plenty to pick from. If you're in the early stages of your development and want enjoyable music you can play and learn with, I think this is ideal.

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Carl Czerny, a student of Ludwig van Beethoven, who then taught Franz Liszt, combined his ability to analyze technique with his years of teaching experience to create exercises that increase the technical ability of the piano student. In this 80-page edition, his pieces systematically introduce notes of various time-values and other musical principles in similar order. The book's many exercises are preceded by invaluable reference materials. In the second half of this volume, the exercises move into a more difficult study of such things as turns, trills, arpeggios, phrasing and more.

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Mozart 21 of His Most Popular Pieces: Alfred Masterwork Edition [Paperback] Review

The Alfred Masterworks Editions are my favorite piano music books. I've been playing the piano for about 20 years, and these are the best series of books I've used. They have very good, clear notations, the arrangements are really well presented and put together, the fingering recommendations are the best I've seen (with the little numbers by the notes), and the biographical information and performance recommendations are a nice touch.

I only wish they had more books in the series.

This Mozart book is a good starter for someone who hasn't played Mozart before, and is looking to get better acquainted with his music.

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Product Description:
Some of Mozart's most popular works are contained in this volume, including the "Fantasia in D Minor," the "Sonata in C Major" (first movement) and the "Turkish March" from the Sonata in A Major. Other selections include intermediate-level transcriptions from operas and orchestral works. Arranged in the order of difficulty, each piece is prefaced by a short description. A biographical sketch of the composer is also provided.

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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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Isidor Phillip - Exercises for Independence of Fingers - Book 1: Piano Technique (Piano Method) [Paperback] Review

Place your hand, completely relaxed, palm down flat on your desk. Now gently curl your middle finger back under your hand so that your hand will be slightly raised yet supported by your tucked under middle finger. Your thumb, index finger, ring finger and pinky should be extended outward and spread evenly. Raise up only your thumb. NO PROBLEM. Next your pinky..., now your index finger. Finally your ring finger. BIG PROBLEM. As a piano player your ring finger is by far your weak link in developing technical dexterity. This book with it's exercises changes that! A must for anyone wishing to become a serious player. And don't forget book two of this series! Practice on!

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Isidor Phillip - Exercises for Independence of Fingers - Book 1

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Burgmuller, Czerny & Hanon: 32 Piano Studies for Technique and Musicality [Paperback] Review

The pieces in this book are organized according to technical purpose and level of difficulty, which make it easier for teacher to assign students.The pieces chosen are very effective in addressing particular technique and musicality.I use this book after my students complete Faber level 2B or after they learn scales, chords, and arpeggios. I don't usually use method books after students reach intermediate level, so this book makes a perfect switch.

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An outstanding compilation of piano etudes and exercises from the ever-popular Burgmuller's 25 Progressive Pieces, Opus 100, Czerny's Practical Method for Beginners on the Piano, Opus 599, and Hanon's The Virtuoso Pianist. Etudes are organized into four units according to difficulty and emphasize different aspects of technique and musicianship. Hanon exercises are included within each unit to reinforce the need for finger strength, independence and agility. Information about each composer's life, music and books is also provided.

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Complete Bach Transcriptions for Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Great music - and a good value.A must for any Bach lovers out there.

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Done with great taste, in a perfectly simple and straightforward manner, Liszt's piano transcriptions of Bach's organ music became the classic models for all future works in this genre.Includes 6Organ Preludes and Fugues (BWV 543-548) and the world-famous Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (BWV 542). New Dover compilation.


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60 Progressive Piano Pieces You Like to Play: Piano Solo (Piano Collection) [Paperback] Review

I would rate this as an extremely difficult collection.By the end of the book it's pretty much at the level of unsimplified Chopin or Beethoven.Note for the dilettante.The first couple of pieces are early intermediate, but the learning curve is steep indeed.

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Contents: Brahms: Cardle Song, Waltz in Ab, Op. 39, No. 15 * J.S. Bach: Minuet, Prelude in C * Beethoven: Fur Elise, Minuet in G, Sonatina No. 1 in G, Sonatina No. 2 in F * Schumann: The Merry Farmer, Soldiers' March, The Wild Horseman * Schubert: Serenade * Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat-Song No. 2 * Tchaikovsky: Christmas ("December" from The Seasons, Op. 37a, No. 12), None But the Lonely Heart * Haydn: Gypsy Rondo, Minuetto Giocoso * Case: Around the Hills * Godard: Au Matin, Op. 83; Second Mazurka in Bb, Op. 54 * Heller: L'Avalanche (Etude) * Offenbach: Barcarolle * Ijinsky: Berceuse (Lullaby) * Strauss: Blue Danube Waltz * Wagner: Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin) * Bilbro: The Busy Sawmill * Merkel: Butterfly, Op. 81, No. 4 * Richter: The Clock * Thompson: Copy Cat * Benda: Dark Eyes (Russian Folk Song) * Lively: Dreamland * Grieg: Elfin Dance * Bender: From a Birch Canoe * Davis: Indian Drum * Behr: In May, In the Gypsy Camp * Wright: Melody, Waltz, Veil Dance * Mozart: Minuet No. 1 * Hopson: Parade of the Midgets * Fisher: Pipes of Pan * Delibes: Pizzicati (Sylvia) * Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 6 and 7 * Kolling: Prestissimo (from Flying Leaves, Op. 147) * Howell: Rustic Dance * Thome: Simple Aveu * Munn: The Snake Charmer * Clementi: Sonatina, Op. 26, No. 1 * Ellmenreich: Spinning Song * Eckstein: Spooks * Adler: The Swimming Pool, Two Butterflies * Harker: Swinging in Fairyland * Rameau: Le Tambourin * Beaumont: Tarantella * Paradies: Toccata in A * Dutton: Under the Rose Arbor * Hobson: The Waterfall * Gwynn: Woodland Waltz.

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