Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered

[f0bul0us]

Does anybody have this book by Josef Hoffman, or any feedback on what someone you know has said about it?

[donjuan]

I own this book!  I got Dover's paperback version of it.  I love it, it is a great book!  Josef Hoffman is an interesting writer.  He makes subtle insults directed at the question asker at times, and you can tell he is very old fashioned in the way he does things.  He likes to use complicated euphemisms to make himself seem even more smart compared to everyone else.    

I recommend getting the book, it is an interesting read.  The section about his lessons with Anton Rubinstein is especially interesting.

donjuan

[ahmedito]

It is a very cool book. You can get it easily on the Dover press. Don Juan's description of it is perfect.

[nick]

Two questions asked in this book were particularly interesting to me. One was, do you just practice slowly, or does one need to contantly increase the speed of ones practicing to play at performance speed? He responded you must gradually practice faster. Next question, should you strike the keys from above, or keep them on the keys before key depression. He responded, keep them as close as possible.
Nick