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Techniques on how to gain greater fluidity of movement while playing to improve the quality of the experience are offered in this manual for serious piano players.

Two cities. Two spies. Which woman survives? Pianist: NOUN. Informal. A person who operates or controls a radio transmitter – often in code. July, 1940Blitz-ridden London: Marnie Fern’s life is torn apart when her grandfather is killed in an air raid. But once she discovers that he’d been working undercover as a radio operative – or pianist – for the Dutch resistance, Marnie knows she must complete his mission – no matter the cost…Nazi-occupied Amsterdam: At the other end of the wireless, fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as she desperately tries to keep her loved ones out of the line of fire – even if it means sacrificing herself…Bound together by the invisible wires of their radios, the two women lead parallel lives in their home cities, as both are betrayed by those they trust the most. But when the Nazis close in on one of them, only the other can save her… The next gripping and heartbreaking WWII historical fiction novel from international bestseller, Mandy Robotham. Real readers love The War Pianist: ‘A story packed with everything historical fiction readers need: espionage and betrayal to plights and flights…I learnt so much!…Brilliantly paced with twists and turns, courage and bravery and a touch of romance.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Rich in detail and almost impossible to put down…I loved it.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A front row seat to the survival of the Blitz in London as well as the Dutch resistance work. Fascinating…riveting.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A book that captures your attention from the first page to the last. Mandy Robotham is a master storyteller…the tension mounts on every page and I could not put it down. Highly recommended.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘My favourite of Mandy’s books so far. I loved Marnie, Willem and Corrie and the relationship among the three of them. The strength and resolve of these characters is so inspiring and captivating…A perfectly composed novel for lovers of historical fiction…Every bit of this novel comes alive. Bravo!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A gripping and heartbreaking WWII novel…If you love historical fiction, then this is a must-read.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Mandy Robotham has done it again! A thoroughly well researched and interesting narrative set during WWII…Another five star read for me.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sisters. Traitors. Spies. When a British RAF Whitley plane comes under fire over the French coast and is forced to drop their cargo, a spy messenger pigeon finds its way into unlikely hands… The occupation has taken much from the Cotillard sisters, and as the Germans increase their forces in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Gabriella, Martine and Simone can’t escape the feeling that the walls are closing in.Yet, just as they should be trying to stay under the radar, Martine’s discovery of a British messenger pigeon leads them down a new and dangerous path. Gaby would do anything to protect her sisters but when the pianist is forced to teach the step-daughter of a German Commandant, and the town accuses the Cotillards of becoming ‘Bad French’ and in allegiance with the enemy, she realizes they have to take the opportunity to fight back that has been handed to them.Now, as the sisters’ secrets wing their way to an unknown contact in London, Gaby, Martine and Simone have to wonder – have they opened a lifeline, or sealed their fate?Readers can’t get enough of USA Today bestseller Andie Newton:‘A brilliant tale of resistance, sisterhood and dangerous secrets … a master storyteller!’ Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestseller ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘If you believe every WW2 story has already been told, think again. This one is special.’ Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A new author to me and what a find. A definite must read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'As suspenseful as a mystery, while also deeply moving and thought-provoking. Highly recommended’ Historical Novel Society'A story of survival and courage … A wonderful read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I recommend this book to anyone looking for adventure, standing up for your beliefs and love’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An excellent method with new thoughts on early piano education.

In The Positive Pianist: How Flow Can Bring Passion to Practice and Performance, author Thomas J. Parente applies the concept of flow to the practice of piano playing, demonstrating how student musicians can experience enjoyment and confidence from succeeding at something that challenges them to an engaging level. By using Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of flow to musical performance, Parente shows that linking productivity and enjoyment in piano playing has a positive impact on students, motivating them to practice more in order to experience flow again; this creates optimal learning conditions for piano practicing. As the chapters progress, Parente shows students how to evaluate their own progress and offers teachers the tools to impart on their students an optimal practice method: one informed by flow. Parente argues for an objective, goal-oriented backdrop that will lead piano students to achieve greater confidence, accuracy, and musicality. The Positive Pianist draws on the author's forty years of teaching experience and research to show piano students and their teachers how to develop a productive, focused mental state when practicing the piano.

In The Positive Pianist: How Flow Can Bring Passion to Practice and Performance, author Thomas J. Parente applies the concept of flow to the practice of piano playing, demonstrating how student musicians can experience enjoyment and confidence from succeeding at something that challenges them to an engaging level. By using Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of flow to musical performance, Parente shows that linking productivity and enjoyment in piano playing has a positive impact on students, motivating them to practice more in order to experience flow again; this creates optimal learning conditions for piano practicing. As the chapters progress, Parente shows students how to evaluate their own progress and offers teachers the tools to impart on their students an optimal practice method: one informed by flow. Parente argues for an objective, goal-oriented backdrop that will lead piano students to achieve greater confidence, accuracy, and musicality. The Positive Pianist draws on the author's forty years of teaching experience and research to show piano students and their teachers how to develop a productive, focused mental state when practicing the piano.

The incredible and inspirational true story of one young man's struggle to find peace during war, and the power of music to bring hope to a desperate nation. 'Ahmad has created a moving and visceral account of conflict, hope and the power of music' Hannah Beckerman, Observer____________One morning in war-torn Damascus, a starving man drags a piano into a rubbled street. Everything he once knew has been destroyed by war.Amidst ruin and despair, he begins to play. He plays of love and hope, he plays for his family and his fellow Syrians. He plays even though he could be killed for doing so.As word of his defiance spreads around the world, he becomes a beacon of hope and even resistance. Yet he fears for his wife and children - the more he plays, the more he and his family are endangered until, finally, he must make a terrible choice . . .Aeham Ahmad's spellbinding and uplifting true story tells of the triumph of love and hope, the incredible bonds of family, and the healing power of music in even the very darkest of places.___________'In amongst the wreckage scenes of hope. An amazing man - Ahmad played the piano just to spread love' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2'An extraordinary, beautiful book about a man who in the midst of utter terror wheeled his piano in to the street and played for Yarmouk. He is amazing' Nihal Arthanayake BBC 5 Live 'The music of Aeham Ahmad became a symbol of resistance' Today, BBC Radio 4 'So inspiring' ITV News'Aeham Ahmad is a talented and brave man of peace. Please read his book and pass it on to anyone who doesn't know or understand the plight of today's refugees' Stanley Tucci BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

In this book, Julian Hellaby presents a detailed study of English piano playing and career management as it was in the middle years of the twentieth century. Making regular comparisons with early twenty-first-century practice, the author examines career-launching mechanisms, such as auditions and competitions, and investigates available means of career sustenance, including artist management, publicity outlets, recital and concerto work, broadcasts, recordings and media reviews. Additionally, Hellaby considers whether a mid-twentieth-century school of English piano playing may be identified and, if so, whether it has lasted into the early decades of the twenty-first century. The author concludes with an appraisal of the state of English pianism in recent years and raises questions about its future. Drawing on extensive research from a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, this book is structured around case-studies of six pianists who were commencing and then developing their careers between approximately 1935 and 1970. The professional lives and playing styles of Malcolm Binns, Peter Katin, Moura Lympany, Denis Matthews, Valerie Tryon and David Wilde are examined, and telling comparisons are made between the state of affairs then and that of more recent times. Engagingly written, the book is likely to appeal to professional and amateur pianists, piano teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate music students, academics and anyone with an interest in the history of pianists, piano performance and music performance history in general.

The widely held belief that Beethoven was a rough pianist, impatient with his instruments, is not altogether accurate: it is influenced by anecdotes dating from when deafness had begun to impair his playing. Presenting a detailed biography of Beethoven's formative years, this book reviews the composer's early career, outlining how he was influenced by teachers, theorists and instruments. Skowroneck describes the development and decline of Beethoven's pianism, and pays special attention to early pianos, their construction and their importance for Beethoven and the modern pianist. The book also includes discussions of legato and Beethoven's trills, and a complete annotated review of eyewitnesses' reports about his playing. Skowroneck presents a revised picture of Beethoven which traces his development from an impetuous young musician into a virtuoso in command of many musical resources.

The first English paperback edition of the unique collection of documents which reveal Chopin as teacher and interpreter of his own music. From the accounts of his pupils, acquaintances and contemporaries, together with his own writing, we gain valuable insight into Chopin's pianistic and stylistic practice, his teaching methods and his aesthetic beliefs. The documents are divided into two categories: those concerning technique and style, two notions inseparable in Chopin's mind, and those concerning the interpretation of Chopin's works. Extensive appendix material presents Chopin's essay 'Sketch for a method', as well as annotated scores belonging to Chopin's pupils and acquaintances, and personal accounts of Chopin's playing as experienced by his contemporaries: composers and pianists, pupils and friends, writers and critics. The statements of Chopin's own students in diaries, letters and reminiscences, written, dictated or conveyed by word of mouth, provide the bulk of these accounts. Throughout the book detailed annotations add a valuable scholary dimension, creating an indispensable guide to the authentic performance of Chopin's piano works.

EPTA’s The Mindful Pianist, by Mark Tanner, presents amateurs and professionals with a fresh perspective on playing and performing. Applying the concept of mindfulness to the piano, this invaluable text explores the crucial connection between mind and body: how an alert, focussed mind fosters playing that is more compelling, more refined and ultimately more rewarding. It tackles the issues encountered by pianists when practising, performing, improvising and preparing for an exam: how to choose repertoire and memorise it; how to set about making an initial survey of a new piece; and how to take a more level-headed view of our aspirations. Drawing on the expert advice of 25 leading pianists and educationalists, this unique book offers a wealth of exercises and musical examples to help every player succeed in becoming a Mindful Pianist.The Mindful Pianist was a ‘Best Print Resource’ nominee for the 2017 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence.

The Foundation Pianist is a set of two books for students beyond the beginner stage who want to develop a technical and musical foundation to help them progress on to intermediate levels. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, the books include daily exercises, sight-reading, repertoire and musical time travel. This series not only develops students' technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, from madrigals to symphonies and operas to concertos.

The Foundation Pianist is a set of two books by David Blackwell and Karen Marshall for students beyond the beginner stage who want to develop a technical and musical foundation to help them progress on to intermediate levels. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, the books include daily exercises, sight-reading, repertoire and musical time travel. This series not only develops students’ technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, from madrigals to symphonies and operas to concertos.The Foundation Pianist Book 2 forms part of the PianoTrainer series.The Foundation Pianist is a set of two books for students beyond the beginner stage, aimed at those who want to develop a technical and musical foundation to help them progress on to intermediate levels. Book 1 is suitable for post-Grade 1 level and Book 2 is suitable for post-Grade 2 level. They are not ‘tutor books’ as such, but both anthologies provide an excellent, thorough and highly enjoyable technical and musical curriculum for their target levels. There are pieces and arrangements (Türk, Gurlitt, Rebikov, Schubert, Bartók, Bach, Mozart, and so on, as well as traditional music and pieces by authors themselves), daily workouts (exercises, sight-reading, repertoire, a vast collection of musical training activities, and facts about the musical time periods. It is like having Marshall (an expert teacher) and Blackwell (an award-winning composer and arranger) at your elbow as you teach.Fiona Lau, Music Teacher Magazine, November 2018Outstanding. A very strong word with which to open a review, but Karen Marshall and David Blackwell really do go the extra mile to cover so much material in these books…..There is so much to help and encourage the students in these books, it’s almost a crime to not have them on your shelves!Liz Dewhurst, Piano Professional Magazine (European Piano Teachers Association), December 2018

The Advanced Pianist Book 1 from the PianoTrainer series is for students who are beyond the intermediate stages and want to develop an advanced technique and musicality. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, these books include exercises, ‘quick study’ sight-reading, repertoire and ‘concert pianist’ hints and tips. The series not only develops students’ technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, here focusing both on historical context and key composers for the piano. Book 1 is suitable for students at grade 6 plus.

The Advanced Pianist Book 2 from the PianoTrainer series is for students who are beyond the intermediate stages and want to develop an advanced technique and musicality. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, these books include exercises, ‘quick study’ sight-reading, repertoire and ‘concert pianist’ hints and tips. The series not only develops students’ technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, here focussing both on historical context and key composers for the piano. Book 2 is suitable for students at grade 7-8 level.

Rediscover the piano with this exciting collection of easy-to-learn piano solos. The Rusty Pianist combines beautiful arrangements of well-known piano favourites with exciting pieces by best-selling composer Pam Wedgwood, sure to get all rusty pianists playing again with ease. The pieces progress from late-elementary to intermediate level, ideal for returning players. With Pam’s unique commentary alongside each piece, her specially recorded demonstration tracks, and a handy Rusty Reminders insert to refer to whenever you play, you’ll have everything you need to get straight back into playing.“Whether you’re ‘rusty’, ‘returning’ or are just after some new repertoire to learn, these books are a must-have....These are the books which will stand the test of time. I would recommend these books without hesitation, and I’m sure they’ll become mainstays of my own teaching for years to come.David Barton, davidbartonmusic.co.uk, May 2022

Notes of a Pianist chronicles the life of one of the most remarkable musical minds of the American experience, the great nineteenth-century New Orleans-born composer and pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869). An important cultural and historical work, the book recounts Gottschalk's experiences as he traveled and performed throughout the last decade of his life. Born to an English-Jewish father and a Haitian mother, Gottschalk is remembered as one of the great New Orleans musicians and composers, his music a combination of the classical tradition in which he was trained, and the New Orleans tradition into which he was born. His art form took him far outside the boundaries of Louisiana, however. While still a child, he studied piano in Paris and gave a concert at the Salle Pleyel, after which Frederic Chopin is said to have remarked: "Give me your hand, my child; I predict that you will become the king of pianists." Gottschalk returned to the United States in 1853, and later lived in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and South America, during which time he kept-sometimes sporadically, sometimes daily--the notebooks that formed the basis of Notes of a Pianist.Published for the first time in 1881, the book continues to resonate with American cultural and musical life. Notes of a Pianist demonstrates Gottschalk's importance not only as a reporter of the musical life and tastes of Americans during the Civil War, but also as a forefather of Louisiana's rich musical culture.

The powerful and bestselling memoir that inspired the Oscar and BAFTA-winning film.'A book so fresh and vivid, so heartbreaking, and so simply and beautifully written, that it manages to tell us the story of horrendous events as if for the first time' Daily TelegraphFirst published in 1946, The Pianist is the unforgettable memoir of a young Polish-Jewish pianist who survived the Second World War against all odds. This is a book that 'takes us as close as we are ever likely to travel to the day-to-day reality of living through terror' (Sunday Times), an indelible reminder of the horrors of war and the astonishing endurance of the human spirit. 'You can learn more about human nature from this brief account of the survival of one man throughout the war years in the devastated city of Warsaw than from several volumes of the average encyclopaedia' Independent on Sunday'We are drawn in to share his surprise and then disbelief at the horrifying progress of events, all conveyed with an understated intimacy and dailiness that render them painfully close - riveting' Observer'A book so fresh and vivid, so heartbreaking, and so simply and beautifully written, that it manages to tell us the story of horrendous events as if for the first time' Daily Telegraph