The (Well) Informed Piano: Artistry and Knowledge

"The (Well) Informed Piano" addresses the technical, musical, artistic, ethical, and philosophical issues in piano methodology. Adding a new perspective and approach criteria to piano methodology, this book is essential reading for musicians, teachers, scholars, and music students. This text maintains continuity with the major contributions of Ludwig Deppe, Tobias Matthay, Grigory Kogan, Heinrich Neuhaus and George Kochevitsky.

"I gladly recommend the attentive reading of 'The (Well) Informed Piano' to the young (and not-so-young) pianist, and to take advantage from what the wide picture of the book offers. I find this publication to be timely and helpful."
(Dmitry Paperno)

"Mr. Henriques book is a brave attempt to coordinate all aspects - mental, neurological, physiological and anatomical - and the result is a work containing much wisdom, whilst being commendably objective. His discussion of teaching, in particular, is relevant to all musicians. It is undoubtedly an important contribution to the literature of piano playing, teaching and learning."
(Richard Beauchamp)

"A fascinating, thought-provoking book which could benefit not only pianists, but also all musicians and music lovers ? a worthy contribution."
(Vladimir Feltsman)

"This book offers readers not only a European based approach to piano interpretation and teaching, but also presents some philosophical matters that connect the organic growth of learning (or re-learning) work to the process of the pianist's own human development. Author-pianist-pedagogue Miguel Henriques does not lose sight of the technical issues either. Serious-minded pianists may enjoy the challenge of this thought-provoking tome."
(Nancy Lee Harper)

CONTENIDO:

Preface

Operative thoughts
-Units and wholenessç

Issues on music interpretation's ethics

The approach to a musical piece

The performance project
-A performance study syllabus
-Form, aesthetic and style
-Repertoires

Pianistic technical learnings
-Questioning
-Sound and concept: a complicity
-Study of components
-The mind
-Piano practice work
-Daily routine
-Diversified finger exercises
-Rapid passages
-Rhythm
-Sound quality
-Other specific practice work

Piano actions heavy and light

The conciousness of love

The spheres in "The Loser"

The 24 Preludes by Lopes Graça

A view on Antonio Fragoso's music

Piano performance pedagogy
-An individual relationship

Bibliography
Illustrations index
Musical examples index
Index
About the author