The instructional materials I choose are intended to develop a student from the beginning stages of learning to an advanced level in a way that is engaging, enjoyable, and effective. My materials include traditional method and exercise books, as well as simple variations of pieces in the standard piano repertoire. Below is a partial list of early preparation materials organized by genre and composer. My goal in using these pieces is to address the technical and stylistic issues, as well as the musical difficulties presented by each genre.
Baroque
J.S. Bach a. Selections from Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach b. First Lessons in Bach c. 18 Short Preludes d. Selections from the French and English Suites e. Selections from Little Preludes and Fugues Handel a. Easier Favorites: Easy to Moderately Difficult Piano b. The First Book for Young Pianists Scarlatti a. Sixty Sonatas, Volumes I and II b. Ten Sonatas for the Piano |
Classical
Haydn a. 12 Easy Pieces Beethoven a. Early, short pieces found in collection books Mozart a. Select Sonatinas |
Romantic
Burgmüller a. 25 Easy and Progressive Studies for Piano, Op. 100 b. Etudes, Op. 68, Op. 76, Op. 97 Tschaikowski a. Children’s Album b. 24 Easy Pieces, Op. 39 Mendelssohn a. Selections from Complete Songs Without Words Schumann a. Album for the Young, Op. 68 b. Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 c. Three Piano Sonatas for the Young, Op. 11 Gretchaninoff a. Glass Beats, Op. 123 Kabalevsky a. Easy Variations, Op. 40, Op. 51 Shostakovich a. 6 Children’s Pieces, Op. 69 b. Puppet Dances For the Piano Chopin a. Easy Preludes and Mazurkas Czerny a. Etudes J.S. Bach a. Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach |
20th Century
Satie a. Three Gymnopedies Debussy a. Children’s Corner Bartók a. For Children b. The First Term at the Piano c. Selections from Melodies from Slovak Children’s and Folk Songs |