A good piano technique is not a gift of nature but rather the product of a judicious programme of exercises,including studies for developing specific skills in the hands and fingers.These exercises are aimed at improving tonal production,flexibility,mobility and evenness of touch,as well as leading to a command of various note production techniques,finger patterns,arpeggios,chords and clear articulation.

The present collection,Piano Studies 1,has been designed to offer the students a great variety of musically interesting material in one volume.All the exercises have been chosen on the basis of proven experience in practical teaching situations.The first section is appropriate for pupils taking elementary grades.

The preliminary exercises at the beginning of the book are easy and aim to encourage.The level of difficulty of some of the later exercises exceeds the minimum required for the elementary grades.These are for pupils who have already reached the required examination standard but need extra material to ensure that they retain their skills and interest up to the date of the examination.The book contains a sufficiently wide variety of material for the teacher to make choices appropriate for individual pupils.

Attention has beed paid to making the notation as readable as possible.All extraneous performance indications,slurs and repetitive fingering markings have been left out.At the end of each exercise there is a short list of items to which teacher and pupil should pay special attention.

Last but not least,remember that these Piano Studies are also music,so make them fun to play!

Happy music-making to one and all!