A Masterworks Method for Developing Pianists series pairs motivating performance repertoire with thoughtful technical studies. Each level contains a Repertoire book with CD and a Technique book, both with convenient page-by-page correlations. When used together, the books give students a deep understanding of the art of music, performance practices, and the necessary skills to play the piano with technical ease. The Technique books are designed to give students a highly structured program of technical development. They include basic keyboard patterns (five-finger patterns, scales, chords, cadences, and arpeggios in the major and minor keys found in the Repertoire books), exercises and etudes, and other necessary technical drills for mastering each piece in the Repertoire books. Suggestions for efficient practice are also included.

The Exploring Piano Classics: A Masterworks Method for Developing Pianists series pairs motivating performance repertoire with thoughtful technical studies. Each level contains a Repertoire book with CD and a Technique book, both with convenient page-by-page correlations. When used together, the books give students a deep understanding of the art of music, performance practices, and the necessary skills to play the piano with technical ease. The Repertoire books include pieces from the major style periods, selected and graded based on festival, competition, and examination lists from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Background information on each style period, its instruments, composers, and the music itself is included. The CD recordings of the repertoire are performed by internationally known clinician and teacher Nancy Bachus. The Preparatory level is an introduction and features easy to follow pictures and diagrams which teach the students how to learn proper technique and proper keyboard etiquette.

The Exploring Piano Classics: A Masterworks Method for Developing Pianists series pairs motivating performance repertoire with thoughtful technical studies. Each level contains a Repertoire book with CD and a Technique book, both with convenient page-by-page correlations. When used together, the books give students a deep understanding of the art of music, performance practices, and the necessary skills to play the piano with technical ease. The Repertoire books include pieces from the major style periods, selected and graded based on festival, competition, and examination lists from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Background information on each style period, its instruments, composers, and the music itself is included. The CD recordings of the repertoire are performed by internationally known clinician and teacher Nancy Bachus. Level 1 features historical notes on the composers and actual classical pieces written by famous composers such as Satie, Gurlitt, Hook, Haydn, Bartok and more.

Basic Library
After acquiring basic reading skills, students at the late elementary level are ready to begin this innovative series designed to emphasize artistry in the early stages of piano study. The series introduces basic technical skills and expands the student's knowledge of style, form and artistic ideas. The Technique books give students a verbal vocabulary by describing 12 basic technical skills and accompaniment patterns needed to play music artistically and with technical assurance. They also explain these skills in detail (i.e. elastic wrist, two-note slurs, finger independence) and offer exercises to master them. Most of the technical skills in Level 1 involve the use of arm weight. The twelve basic technical skills covered in Level 2 are elastic wrist, strong fingers, wrist rotation, two-note slurs, balancing torso and forearm, finger independence, slurs, forearm staccato, push-off staccato, rolling wrist, arm-to-arm independence and damper pedal technique. Most of the skills in Level 2 involve pivoting the arm. Among other things, Level 3 covers distribution of arm weight and opening/closing the hand in Hanon exercises, arpeggios, and scales. The Repertoire books provide original music by Catherine Rollin, and employ the technical skills taught in the Technique books.

This one collection contains the complete Op. 299 (Books 1 & 2) of Carl Czerny. They're the more advanced of Czerny's best-known exercises and emphasize the development of rapid passage work for both hands. Includes historical and performance notes, easy-to-read new music engraving and a brilliant CD demonstrating possible tempos to which students may aspire. A new book in the Schirmer Performance Editions series.

Pianist and pedagogue Dr. Matthew Edwards has edited this new volume in the Schirmer Performance Library. Czerny's studies in opus 849 provide a convenient bridge between the Practical Method for Beginners, Op. 599 and The School of Velocity, Op. 299. The studies are presented as legitimate literature, emphasizing their musical potential, in conjunction with their technical benefit. Included is a complete CD with all the works in the collection, performed by Dr. Edwards.