Clavichord for Beginners


Book Description

Written by Joan Benson, one of the champions of clavichord performance in the 20th century, Clavichord for Beginners is an exceptional method book for both practitioners and enthusiasts. In addition to detailing the historical origins of the instrument and the evolution of keyboard technique, the book describes the proper method for practicing fingering and articulation and emphasizes the importance of touch and sensitivity at the keyboard.




The Clavichord


Book Description

This is a richly illustrated history of the clavichord, the forerunner of the modern piano.







Teach Yourself VISUALLY Piano


Book Description

Want to go beyond "Chopsticks?" This visual guide to tickling the ivories will show you the way. By Chapter 2, you'll be playing simple pieces and practicing scales. You'll progress from getting familiar with notes, symbols, and keys to playing basic chords and reading music like a pro. Without getting bogged down in boring theory, you'll learn what you need to know and enjoy playing as you go! Whether you like Bach or rock, jazz or country, golden oldies or new age, you'll love learning to play the fun, visual way. Concise two-page lessons show you all the crucial skills and are ideal for quick review Each skill, chord, or technique is clearly described Concise and understandable instructions accompany each photo Detailed color photos demonstrate proper fingering technique Helpful tips provide additional guidance




Five Centuries of Keyboard Music


Book Description

Gillespie discusses 350 composers and their works for harpsichord and piano, including Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy. Includes 116 musical examples, illustrations, and a glossary of musical terms.




The Harpsichord Owner's Guide


Book Description

Kottick presents technical information in an accessible, but entertaining, way: the forms and styles of harpsichords, advice on purchasing decisions, maintenance techniques (such as voicing, regulating, and changing strings, tongues, plectra, springs, and dampers), aids in troubleshooting common problems, and detailed instructions on tuning and temperament. As builder of some thirty keyboard instruments, Kottick is well qualified to speak on the subject.




Historical Harpsichord Technique


Book Description

Yonit Lea Kosovske surveys early music and writing about keyboard performance with the aim of facilitating the development of an expressive tone in the modern player. Reviewing the work of the pedagogues and performers of the late Renaissance through the late Baroque, she gives special emphasis to la douceur du toucher or a gentle touch. Other topics addressed include posture, early pedagogy, exercises, articulation, and fingering patterns. Illustrated with musical examples as well as photos of the author at the keyboard, Historical Harpsichord Technique can be used for individual or group lessons and for amateurs and professionals.




The Piano-Forte


Book Description

Originally published in 1933, this book provides a detailed history of the piano-forte from its invention in Italy in the eighteenth century until the presentation of the first European cast-iron frame for a piano at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Harding also analyses the role of the piano as a replacement for a chamber orchestra and its history as a domestic instrument. The text is richly illustrated with images of pianos produced by a variety of makers over time, as well as with images of piano machinery taken from patent registrations. This thoroughly-researched book will be of value to anyone with an interest in one of the most ubiquitous instruments in the Western world and the history of its development.




Starting on the Harpsichord


Book Description

"Jean Nandi's delightful, informative, & user-friendly 'how-to' book, Starting on the Harpsichord, fills a twenty-year need for an effective tutor designed for the individual whose first musical experience is on a harpsichord. We are fortunate that this first book of its genre is so engaging, clear, & pedagogically imaginative. The book includes charming black & white drawings by Thomas Gordon Smith, an architect, & Mark Farmer, both experienced harpsichord players. The writing style is good-natured, lucid, & conversational throughout. Hand position & rhythmic interpretation all proceed in order of importance, including little examples written by Leonie Jenkins, an orthopedist & harpsichordist who, like the artists listed above, studied with Nandi, a twenty-five-year veteran of harpsichord teaching."--Laurette Goldberg, Notes, Music Library Association Quarterly Journal, December, 1990. "I invite you to read the book Starting on the Harpsichord by Jean Nandi...There has never been such a study that outlines in such good detail how to play the harpsichord...A thorough teaching manual. ...Jean's enthusiasm & her love of the harpsichord has inspired me & others to continue playing & enjoying the harpsichord"...Matthew Redsell, Continuo Magazine, 1989-1990.




The Renaissance Flute


Book Description

The renaissance flute, with its rich history, stunning repertoire, and mellow tone, has attracted a significant following among flutists, whether they specialize in modern flute or historical instruments. Yet, actually delving into the study of renaissance flute has proven a challenge - there exists a confusing array of editions of renaissance music, specialized (and often expensive) facsimiles of manuscripts and early prints, and in unfamiliar notations, while at the same time there is a dearth of resources for beginners. Confronting this challenge with the first ever practitioners' handbook for renaissance flute, Kate Clark and Amanda Markwick offer flutists of all levels a clear and accessible introduction to the world and repertoire of the instrument. In The Renaissance Flute: A Contemporary Guide, Clark and Markwick cover all aspects, from practicalities such as buying and maintaining the instrument, to actual music for solo and group performance, to theory designed to improve the understanding and playing of renaissance polyphony. This approach enables students to immerse themselves at their own pace and build on their skills with each chapter. With nearly 40 full pages of exercises, and a companion website with recorded examples and filmed instructions from the authors, The Renaissance Flute provides professionals and newcomers alike a new entryway into the world and practice of renaissance music.