Alfred's Premier Piano Course - Technique Book

By Dennis Alexander, Gayle Kowalchyk, E. L. Lancaster, Victoria McArthur, and Martha Mier

Now your students will have the technical tools needed to achieve artistic performances. They will encounter skills in four areas---playing naturally (physical aspects), moving freely (around the keyboard), playing beautifully (tone production) and playing artistically. The technical goals are accomplished through three types of activities---patterned exercises with necessary repetitions to make the technique feel natural, artistic etudes that showcase the student's technique in an artistic musical setting and appealing and descriptive exercises called Technique Tools. 

Level 1A

The nine Technique Tools in Level 1A relate to relaxed shoulders, arm weight, moving freely, strong fingertips, finger weights, repeated notes, thumb position, finger independence and gentle hand rock. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book; when the Lesson, Theory, Performance and Technique books are used together, they offer a fully integrated and unparalleled comprehensive approach to piano instruction.

Level 1B

The technical tools and artistic skills learned in Technique 1A are enhanced and expanded in Technique 1B. Four new technique tools are introduced that relate to smooth legato, crisp staccato, rising wrist and amazing phrasing. Patterned exercises provide repetitions that make technique feel natural and artistic etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting. New to this level are Hands-Together Workshops that focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Level 2A

Technique 2A continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A and 1B. The seven new Technique Tools introduced are: dynamic shaping, crossing over the thumb, solid-sounding chords, two-note slurs, seamless melodies, balance between melody and accompaniment, and damper pedal footwork. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Level 2B

Technique 2B continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A, 1B, and 2A. The seven new Technique Tools introduced are: three-note slurs, preparing quickly for hand crossings, feel the downbeat, finger stretches, legato pedal, finger 1 under finger 3, and finger 3 over finger 1. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Level 3

Technique 3 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. The four new Technique Tools introduced are: changing fingers on repeated notes, double-note shifts, contracting the hand, and ovals. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Level 4

Technique 4 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A - 3. The five new Technique Tools introduced are: staccato against legato, playing in and out of black keys, speed links, open the hand, and rock the Alberti bass. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.

Level 5

Technique 5 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A--4. The six new Technique Tools introduced are: Even Sixteenth Notes, Playing Grace Notes, Body Balance, Over and Back, Building Scale Velocity, and Sustained Notes. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.