Repertoire Choices for Teaching Intermediate-Level Piano Students, with Practice Suggestions and Exercises, Based on Five Pillars of Musicianship

Abstract

This document is to form a practical tool for the development of piano students in general during their early years of piano learning. My research seeks to develop the argument that piano performance training should not be the same as training for athletes. Although the two have many similarities in terms of the physiology of hand and body movement, and building up stamina for a performance, an important goal of the pianist is to acquire a variety of skills to create differences in touch. The ultimate goal of acquiring techniques and skills in piano playing is to apply them to repertoire and to bring the musical score to life. This thesis seeks to identify pieces that are available for teaching piano students in the early years of learning, but are overlooked in the field. Each piece has certain areas of pianistic/musical goals to address, and some provide creative exercises based on principles of piano playing designed to overcome certain challenges. The organization of the document is based on the development of selected pillars in musicianship.