Handbook for Piano Practice A Guide to Life-Long Learning in Music Through Continuing Education in Piano for Students and Teachers

Published in the United States by William R. Parks - www.wrparks.com To receive a free catalog via email in a PDF file attachment with sample chapters from our books listed at www.wrparks.com send your request via email to: wparkspublishing@aol.com The author, Victoria Stearns discusses her book, "Handbook for Piano Practice." As a lifelong piano teacher, I feel that more people could learn to play the piano, which leads the way to music appreciation and enjoyment, if they only knew how to practice efficiently. There would be progress instead of discouragement, and people would continue with music lessons instead of quitting them. For decades, I have searched for a book that stresses the important principles along with basic information, and never found anything. The book I have written, Handbook for Piano Practice, is the book I wish I had had as a student all those years ago. It is not a piano "method" but a friendly guide and companion, encouraging and providing all the pertinent material and necessary hints for good practice habits (with reasons given) and learning genuine piano literature. It is for students of all ages (including adult "restarters") from before the first lesson through the intermediate level, sufficient for secondary piano students as well. The keys to learning are efficient practice and learning how to listen. Most teachers do not have the time to delve into these matters, and these points need much repetition. I myself wasted many an hour with improper practice habits. If every piano student used this as a reference, there would be a great deal more enjoyment, appreciation, progress, learning, even attendance at musical events. The world would be a far better place if more people played music. Today we hear a great deal about stress reduction, Alzheimer's prevention, the need to keep learning, the need to relax. Music will accomplish all of the above and more in a most enjoyable way. Victoria Stearns, has two degrees in music from SUNY at Buffalo, one in music history and the other in piano performance both summa cum laude] and also a master's degree in library science. She had additional study in music history at Yale. She has taught piano for almost five decades and has worked in music libraries in Buffalo and the Library of Congress, and also wrote music criticism for the Buffalo Evening News.