On Piano Playing: Motion, Sound, and Expression

The Determining Factors In Piano Technique : 1. Music, Motions And Emotions : Modification Of Sound And Human Emotions ; Composer, Performer, Listener ; Coordination, Independence, And Interdependence ; Force Of Gravity And The Muscles ; Pressure, Weight And Stress ; Tone Quality -- 2. The Piano : The Most Complete Instrument ; Forerunners Of The Piano ; Transcriptions And Ornamentation ; The Hand's Reach ; Sound Production ; Volume And Tone Quality -- 3. The Human Performing Mechanism : Coordination Of The Small And Large Muscles ; Extensors, Flexors, Biceps, And Triceps ; Fingers, Hand, Forearm, And Upper Arm ; The Shoulder ; Torso, Back And Chest Muscles, And The Diaphragm ; Sitting Positions ; The Feet And The Bench -- Basic Technical Patterns : 4. Free Fall : Gravity And Our Muscles ; The Role Of Weight ; Lifting, Drop, Landing, And Rebound ; Guidelines, Exercises, And Examples --^ 5. Five-fingers, Scales, And Arpeggios : Anatomy Of The Fingers And Thumb ; Horizontal And Vertical Adjusting Motions ; Use Of The Thumb ; The Upper Arm And Body ; Shifting In Arpeggios ; Note Groupings And Legato ; Use Of The Damper ; Phrase Endings ; Guidelines, Exercises, And Examples -- 6. Rotation : Anatomy Of The Forearm ; Pronation And Supination ; Axial Rotation ; Fingers, Forearm, And Elbow ; Lateral Motions ; Guidelines, Exercises, And Examples -- 7. Staccato : The Wrist Staccato ; Roles Of The Fingers, Hand, Forearm, And Upper Arm ; Lift And Rebound ; White And Black Keys ; Staccato And Legato Octaves ; Guidelines, Exercises, And Examples -- 8. Thrust : Thrust Versus Free Fall ; When To Use Thrust ; Guidelines, Exercises, And Examples -- 9. Summary Of The Basic Technical Patterns : Five Motion Patterns And The Score ; The Slur As Modifier Of Technique ; The Wrist And Phrasing ; Variety In The Application Of Staccato ; The Trill --^ Technique Becomes Music : 10: Identification And Application Of The Basic Technical Patterns : Symbols For The Five Basic Motions; Wrist Positions And Touch Forms ; Skill And Artistry ; How To Play The Exposition Of Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata ; A Variant Of A Familiar Basic Motion -- 11. Independence And Interdependence : The Goal: Coordination, Not Muscle Building ; The Principal Adjusting Motions ; Active And Passive Motions ; Finger Exercises ; The Human Warning System -- 12. The Pedals : Evolution Of The Pedal ; Pedal Nomenclature ; Uses Of The Three Pedals ; Pedal Markings ; Partial Pedals And The Pedal Tremolo ; The Pedal In Baroque And Pre-baroque Music ; Combining Pedals ; The Ear As Master -- 13. Singing Tone : The Expressive Capability Of The Piano ; The Role Of The Equipment ; Cushioning Or Pressure ; The Piano As Love Object ; The Shoulders And The Role Of Weight --^ 14. Practicing : Mechanical Versus Conscious Practicing ; Varying Rhythmic Patterns ; Slow Practice ; Metrically Uneven Practice ; The Conscious, Subconscious, And Automatic Centers ; Creativity ; Mental Practice -- 15. Memorization : Why Memorize? ; When To Memorize ; Visual, Acoustic, Motoric, And Intellectual Memory ; Memory Slips -- 16. Musical Diction : The Language Of Music ; Upbeats And Downbeats ; Means Of Emphasis ; Flexibility ; Crescendos ; The Negative Emphasis ; Ornamental Passages ; Appoggiaturas And Grace Notes ; Ritardando And Accelerando ; The Intangibles ; Tension And Release ; The Piano As Orchestra ; The Human Voice ; Singing Tone At Any Cost? ; Rubato ; The Fermata ; Slurs ; National And Regional Characteristics --^ 17. Public Performance : Performance: The Ultimate Issue ; The Performer As Teacher ; The Expected And The Unexpected At Concerts ; Physiological And Psychological Factors ; Establishing The Right Tempo ; The Telling Pause: On Stage And In The Recording Studio ; Criteria For Recordings Versus Live Performances ; The Audiovisual Film -- 18. Mannerisms And Excess Energy : Mannerisms: Manifestations Of Excess Energy As A Gauge Of Well- Or Malfunctioning Technique ; Spontaneous And Cultivated Mannerisms ; Showmanship ; The Value Of Slow, Flexible Movements ; A Mannerism Sampler ; Yes-yes And No-no ; Walking Off Stage ; Beware Of Excess Energy!. Gyorgy Sandor. Includes Index.