Burgmüller, Czerny & Hanon -- Piano Studies Selected for Technique and Musicality, Bk 1

This is a little gem of a series of technical studies. It has made technical work much more palatable and doable for me. The editor has sifted through the three titular composers and put together a cohesive and progressive program for technical advancement. The etudes are well selected for level of difficulty and musical value. Well, the Hanon studies have to be excluded from any talk of musicality of course, but the Burgmueller, and yes, even many of the Czerny studies are quite appealing to play in a way. BTW, there are seven Hanon studies in this volume, all from part one of that series, so if , like me, you do Hanon straight, you are getting 25 pieces total by Czerny and Burgmueller. I have found the studies to be very nicely varied as to their musical and technical qualities, very well rounded. A couple of the Burgmueller pieces were favorites of mine when I was a ten year old taking lessons. Detailed instructions are given on what to emphasize in the pieces, which is quite helpful to me, as currently I am working without an instructor. The first book has studies that I would say are early to mid-intermediate in difficulty. Definitely recommended for the do-it -yourself adult piano student. I hope to be playing through and reviewing the second and third books soon!

Very impressive book. As a teacher, this is great for students. The technique really works on individual finger strength....also includes Hanon and many different pieces. My adults love it.....I will use it too!

I have both the Burgmuller etudes and the Czerny opus 599. However, those books don't really tell you what the etudes are specifically targeting. They are effective but I don't really know what the focus is on. This exercise book addresses exactly that. I'm not a big fan of Hanon but Clarfield chose some of his useful exercises in preparation for a Burgmuller etude. All I can say is it's great. I was at intermediate level when I stopped playing the piano over a decade ago so I'm pretty much picking up where I left off. I don't think this book is appropriate for a beginner.

Great! Great! Great!

The pieces in this book are organized according to technical purpose and level of difficulty, which make it easier for teacher to assign students. The pieces chosen are very effective in addressing particular technique and musicality. I use this book after my students complete Faber level 2B or after they learn scales, chords, and arpeggios. I don't usually use method books after students reach intermediate level, so this book makes a perfect switch.

Shipped nicely and was well made. My professor recommended this book to me, so it's really just a matter of me practicing

a perfect combination of technique and musicality!

Great series, use a lot with my high school piano students, and occasionally with adults.

After struggling with going straight to Grade 5 following a long break away from the piano I realised that the missing pieces for me were sight reading and technique. There are so many books available on both in addition to the official graded pieces themselves. What makes this series of books so invaluable is that they bring all of this together in a logical graded progression with helpful explanations. Three of the masters of technique feature with helpful overviews of their lives- at times it is almost like they are there teaching you in person. Over 30 pieces included plus notes make this book exceptional value for money. One word of caution, I would say this is aimed at Grades 3 to 4, rather than for the absolute beginner.

I love this series of books, as an adult, mainly self taught as a child, and wanting interesting things to play that would improve my fingering (something I ignored as a child), by introducing different fingering patterns, this series is invaluable. There are clear instructions, and fingering notation is extensive. And there's a great mix of exercises and beautiful music.

As an adult bedinner I have found this to be invaluable with short exercises and pieces to play which keeps it interesting. Great combination

Great way to improve piano technique pitched at a high beginner/low intermediate level.

Fine - thanks