Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing (Dover Books On Music: Piano)

This book is a must for serious pianists. Coming from this line of pianists, my teacher's teacher was Mme Lhevinne, I may be a little bit biased. This book covers all of the basic technical aspects of music making at the piano. Also, the book is very short, so it's an easy read.If you've been schooled in this line of pianistic thinking, some of the concepts may seem elementary, but note the title. Still, Mr. Lhevinne's writing is clear and erudite. A pleasure to read.Edit 4/29/2012This is still a great book, though I realized I should have added some additional information. This book is very short, and covers a huge amount of ground in a very short time. It's a great way to tie together all of your technical knowledge if you already have the requisite know-how. On the other hand, I question how useful it might be to someone who has no clue. At any rate, not for beginners!The writing is deceptively facile. While it's very easy to read, you'll miss important nuggets of wisdom if you don't read carefully.

It is amazing to me that such a little book can cover in easy-to-execute detail what seems to me EXACTLY what is usually left out of piano pedagogy for the typical American kid. My teachers were mostly focused on technical performance, speed, and perfection, kind of like Olympic coaches, but never mentioned how to imbue with music with soul and bring out what the composer intended. Mr. Lhevinne can actually explain how to holistically (i.e., with states of mind as well as mechanical techniques) achieve this, notably by explaining precisely how to achieve whatever kind of touch works to create a desired effect. (There are 3 different kinds of staccato mentioned!). Mrs.Lhevinne's intro is also helpful and is in addition funny. If you are a dedicated amateur pianist, this book could make all the difference in your playing.

Outstanding book, helpful, insightful and informative. As a new piano player, the book gives a step by step approach in learning how to play the piano.

What did I learn from this book? Mainly, that Anton Rubinstein has had an immense influence on Russian piano pedagogy. This slim volume veers frequently into hagiography. ("How did the Master do it?") As one who had never thought about Anton Rubinstein, his style and influence, that can be interesting at first.I also got a brief taste as to what it would be like to have a strict piano teacher from this Russian tradition.Otherwise, it seemed by turns platitudinous and superstitious.Yes, we all know that technique is in service to music not the other way around, that silence is important, and that the pedal, as Anton Rubinstein says, is the soul of the piano. You shouldn't need to buy a book to learn such things. The few comments on technique come as if from on high rather than from someone who has tried a lot of things with a lot of students and knows the range of things that work -- rather than The One True Anton Rubinstein Way. I've been reading a number of books on piano technique lately. This one ranks dead last in usefulness.

Younger piano teachers can definitely use this book as a manual for their teaching philosophy and insert other knowledge and experiences later on!

This book is a real gem. In particular, Mr. Lhevine's understanding of how the beautiful tone - the most difficult task for piano player - can be produced. I have read many books on the subject of piano technique. Many of them are subjective approximations, some contains intuitive insights here and there. In this one I found the answer I was looking for all my life - how to create a singing tone. A wonderful confirmation for my own findings. Dover made a real gift to those tormented souls who are in constant search of beauty in piano playing.

Excellent general overview of the various technical and musical aspects of playing the piano. But, very little detail as far as execution. Principles are sound, but this is more a philosophical than a detailed pedagogical treatise.

I really have enjoyed reading this little book. So little yet full of guidelines that if you really understand what the writer is talking about, you’ll definitely benefit greatly. I’ve taken so many notes and will definitely read it many times to remind myself what piano playing is really all about.

As an amateur pianist I feel a need to read about ways to improve my playing in addition to the helpful hints that I get from my concert pianist teacher. So I bought this book... Alas, I have to say that I was disappointede by it. True there are some good things in it but generally speaking there is too much about important goals and too little about how to achieve them. Examples with excerpts of good practice pieces are given but no hints on the best ways to practise them. This compares unfavourably, for example, with Cortot's detailed footnotes in his published texts of Chopin's compositions. I suggest that there are other and better books on the basics of piano playing that are more concrete, more practical and, er, more basic.

Read this if you are serious about learning piano. Why not? It's an interesting read, and it has some good bits on pedalling as well.

Unnecessarily complicated. Archaic language. Useless better yt and playing exercises from.real music

Very short and straight to the point to book. Does have some very useful information inside it for piano Playing

A lot of what had been written here must be familiar to serious students but one can easily forget basics. I would come back to this book from time to time so I do not veer off into a wrong direction in practicing