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.

An excellent follow-up to Köhler's "12 Easy Studies," these twenty etudes continue to develop finger dexterity through broken-chord and scalar passagework. Emphasizing traditional harmonies, the works also include a variety of articulations and dynamic contrasts. Reminiscent of the easier Czerny exercises, these one- and two-page studies are easily learned by intermediate-level pianists.

This volume includes 12 character pieces-one for every month of the year-which creates the musical atmosphere, alluded to by their respective titles. Expressive and thoughtful, they are effective performance pieces for intermediate to moderately advanced pianists. The editor has maintained the works in their original form and indicated tempo, dynamics, phrasing and fingering where necessary. Beautifully engraved, the music is widely spaced for easy reading.

A sparkling collection of graded pieces for the progressing piano student. The Duets books correspond in all respects to the Solo books and are intended for simultaneous use. These duets have been designed to provide students with the invaluable experience of ensemble performance from their earliest studies. The secondo parts are no more difficult than the primo parts, so that each student may become familiar with both parts.

Ludwig van Beethoven's Variations on a Swiss Song, K. WoO 64, was composed in 1790, when the composer was not over twenty years of age. This selection, long a favorite of piano students and teachers, becomes even more interesting when the story behind the work is known. To understand exactly how this piece should be performed the first question that needs answering is, "Variations on what Swiss song?" The name of the song is Dursli and Babeli, and the melody and the words may be found in almost any late eighteenth-century or early nineteenth-century collection of old Swiss or German folk tunes. Among the most famous collections that include it are those of Reichardt, Herder and Müller. These sources date between 1781 and 1789. While some nineteenth century sources present the text of this song with as many as eleven verses, and with some changes in the words to the original stanzas, only seven verses were known when Beethoven wrote his variations, and the song was very popular. Goethe was said to be very fond of this song, which he describes as "a charming story of peasant love." The poet Herder wrote, "The melody is light and soaring like a lark, and the dialect swings the words along in a way that can scarcely be appreciated when one simply sees them on paper." Perhaps the most amusing aspect of this work is Beethoven's use of the staccato notes to imitate the clipped Swiss-German dialect. This piece provides an excellent example of the composer's use of three kinds of articulation marks, namely the wedge which indicated a normal staccato (not necessarily accented); the dot which was held a bit longer, and the dot under the slur, which was held still longer. It will be noted by those who have even a slight knowledge of the German language that the dialect used in the poem has staccato characteristics.

A sparkling collection of graded pieces for the progressing piano student. In Book one of the series, the student is introduced to most of the basic elements of notation. The melodies are divided between the hands, which remain in five-finger position.

This distinguished edition from Dr. Murray Baylor includes works that Prokofiev composed for solo piano plus Prokofiev's own piano transcription of works he had written for the symphony orchestra or the stage. Within its pages you will find the sprightly "Diabolic Suggestion," Op. 4, No. 4, the virtuoso "Toccata," Op. 11, "Prelude," Op. 12, No. 7 and "March" and "Scherzo" from "The Love for Three Oranges," Op. 33B.

16 intermedite to early advanced piano solos reflecting the influence of 16 great composers on music at the turn of the 20th century.

25 of the most popular classics are tastefully arranged for piano. Allan Small is noted for his classical transcriptions and his ability to preserve the rich sound of the original while keeping the technical difficulties to a minimum.

These books introduce the student to a wide variety of musical designs that spark the imagination while developing technical skills.