"piano theory" book ?

[Daniel_piano]

I wonder if anyone know of any good "piano theory" book?
Yes, piano theory, the theory of movements at the piano while dealing with technical  theory
Piano is a lot practice and visual examples but there's also a lot of theory and not general theory that could apply to trumpet or harp as well, just piano theory
For example a book that explain you the movement to do when there thirds, the movement of legato, what to do crossing hands, or how to deal with two, three or four voice in a piece, movement for acciacatura or chords and arpeggios

I'm looking basically for a collection of what a teacher explain at lesson
It would be useful to have something that remind you of what your teacher taught you about thirds, three voices, legato, crossing hands and so on
Since I don't write dows or record what my teacher explains to me (not enough time) such a book would be really helpful

Is there any "piano theory" book out there?

Daniel

[xvimbi]

Search for "books" and you'll find a number of threads dealing with books on piano technique.

Off the top of my head, check out the well-known books by the following authors (we have to make that a FAQ if it isn't already)

CC
Georgy Sandor
Seymore Fink
Seymore Bernstein
Thomas Mark
The Taubman Institute videos

[Daniel_piano]

Search for "books" and you'll find a number of threads dealing with books on piano technique.

Off the top of my head, check out the well-known books by the following authors (we have to make that a FAQ if it isn't already)

CC
Georgy Sandor
Seymore Fink
Seymore Bernstein
Thomas Mark
The Taubman Institute videos

Already read Chuan C. Chang and Thomas Mark
I tried to search Bernstein and Fink books with no success
How are their titles, and where can I buy them?

Does anyone know if Abby Whiteside book is any good?

Thanks
Daniel

[xvimbi]

Already read Chuan C. Chang and Thomas Mark
I tried to search Bernstein and Fink books with no success
How are their titles, and where can I buy them?

Does anyone know if Abby Whiteside book is any good?

Thanks
Daniel

Ever heard of Amazon.com?

Gyorgy Sandor, "On Piano Playing: Motion, Sound, and Expression", ISBN 0028722809
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0028722809/qid=1101821214/sr=8-6/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Seymour Bernstein, "20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography", ISBN 0793503728
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0793503728/ref=pd_sim_b_1/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Seymour Fink, "Mastering Piano Technique: A Guide for Students, Teachers, and Performers", ISBN 0931340462
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0931340462/ref=pd_sim_b_2/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Walter Gieseking, "Piano Technique", ISBN 0486228673
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486228673/ref=pd_sim_b_3/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Josef Lhevinne, "Basic Principles in Pianoforte Playing", ISBN 0486228207
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486228207/ref=pd_sim_b_2/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Josef Hofmann, "Piano Playing With Piano Questions Answered", ISBN 0486233626
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486233626/ref=pd_sim_b_2/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Malwine Bree, "The Leschetizky Method: A Guide to Fine and Correct Piano Playing", ISBN 0486295966
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486295966/ref=pd_sim_b_4/104-1828902-3256765?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Anton Rubinstein, "The Art of Piano Pedaling : Two Classic Guides", ISBN 048642782X
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/048642782X/qid=1101821658/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=books

Joseph Banowetz, "The Pianist's Guide to Pedaling", ISBN 0253207320
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0253207320/qid=1101821658/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=books

Silvio Scionti, "Essays on Artistic Piano Playing and Other Topics", ISBN 1574410415
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1574410415/qid=1101821658/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=books

Abbey Whiteside, "Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing : Indispensables of Piano Playing - Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays", ISBN 1574670263

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1574670263/qid=1101821805/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1828902-3256765?v=glance&s=books

Thomas Mark, "What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body", ISBN 1579992064
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1579992064/qid%3D1101821875/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-1828902-3256765

[Daniel_piano]

Ever heard of Amazon.com?

Yes, but you gave me the wrong name so I found nothing
Now, with the correct names it works


Daniel

[bernhard]

The books xvimbi listed are excellent suggestions, in particular,Gieseking, Mark, Bernstein, Sandor, Fink (make sure you get the video as well), Banowetz and Whiteside. These are all “must-read” category and there is an incredible amount of useful and usable material in them. Whiteside is heavy going though. Her writing style is on the convoluted side, but also what she is writing about is very difficult to write about. I can imagine she was a brilliant teacher. However once (and if) you get what she is hinting at, you cannot but marvel at her genius.

Hoffman and Lhevine are mostly useless from the point of view of giving you something you can use, although they are very interesting as a source of anecdotes and philosophical thoughts about piano playing, but most of their tips on technique and practice are platitudes.

I read Malwine Bree and was mostly unimpressed.

I have not read Scionti or Rubinstein., so I cannot comment on them.

A few more books that you may find helpful are:

Alan Fraser – The craft of piano playing.

Here is his website: https://alanfraser.faithweb.com/title.htm


Jozsef Gat – The technique of piano playing (Collet’s) – This is an amazing book, perhaps the best on “modern” (that is from the 1960s) technique. A most interesting feature is the abundant use of multiple photographs showing how some very famous pianists achieved their effects sometimes by startling different means.

Thomas Fielden – The study of pianoforte technique (MacMillan)

William S. Newman – The pianist’s problems (Da Capo)

George Kotchevitsky – The art of piano playing: A scientific approach. (Summy Birchard)

Otto Ortmann – The physiological mechanics of piano technique (Dutton)

Jean Jacques Eigeldinger – Chopin: Pianist and teacher (Cambridge) – This is a most fascinating book exploring Chopin’s unique technique and pedagogical methods (at the time). It also includes his never published “Piano method”. A must.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Nordlys]

Nobody mentioned Neuhaus?
I would recommend Heinrich Neuhaus, "Art of piano playing", first of all. Gives an inspired insight into all aspects of piano playing.

Then, as mentioned: Jean Jacques Eigeldinger: "Chopin: Pianist and teacher". Very good both for an understanding of piano playing, and as a source for research in Chopin.

For a good outline of the development of piano technique through the history, see Reginald R. Gerig: "Famous Pianists and Their Technique".


Reading books is inspiration, but you can of course never learn to play the piano by this in itself.

[Daniel_piano]

Thanks Xvimbi and Bernhard for your suggestions

Jozsef Gat – The technique of piano playing (Colle[t’s) – This is an amazing book, perhaps the best on “modern” (that is from the 1960s) technique. A most interesting feature is the abundant use of multiple photographs showing how some very famous pianists achieved their effects sometimes by startling different means.

By modern technique you mean, modern technique related to baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic (whole piano repertoire) or do you mean the technique to play modern avant-garde pieces?
Anyway, do you know where to buy this book?
Found no shop that had it, had a description of it or sell it
I only found one copy of it somewhere for 150$

Daniel

[bernhard]

By modern technique you mean, modern technique related to baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic (whole piano repertoire) or do you mean the technique to play modern avant-garde pieces?
Anyway, do you know where to buy this book?
Found no shop that had it, had a description of it or sell it
I only found one copy of it somewhere for 150$

Daniel

The 19th century saw many fad theories of technique – including the use of diverse sorts or apparatus, and the rise of the misguide technical exercise (e.g. Hanon). By the end of the 19th century, and beginning of the 20th century many ideas about technique were being challenged and many new ideas (in fact they were not new ideas: superlative pianists had been using them all along) started cropping up, most notably the ideas of Dieppe, Breitkopf and Matthay. By the 1950s, there was a completely new approach to technique, (arm weight instead of finger strength for instance) and this is what I am referring to, when I say “modern technique”, I don't mean technique to play modern music.

Have you ever heard of OXFAM? It is a charity, and they have bookshops. People donate books, they sell the books for peanuts, the money goes to their charity work. I’ve got my copy at Oxfam for £ 2 (bargain of the year). But my local library also has a copy. So I can only suggest that you check in your local library. I would expect that any University music library would have a copy of it, since it is such a seminal work.

It may be out of print, I don't know. Have a look here for some second-hand offers:

https://www.abetitles1.com/Title/3162153/The+Technique+of+Piano+Playing.html

Best wishes,
Bernhard.