Customer Reviews

The School of Velocity, Op. 299 (Complete): For The Piano (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics)

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These exercises are invaluable to those looking to develop dexterity on the keyboard, especially in terms of digital independence. They have stood the test of time and are beloved for their simple progression of concepts and interesting patterns.

Educators and students alike will benefit from this collection of exercises. These studies are meant to played slowly with proper technique and then eventually faster and more confidently...thus, the School of Velocity.

Do yourself and/or your students a favor and pick up a copy of this book.

As a casual piano student thirty years ago, I stumbled on a School of Velocity collection at a rummage sale. Curious as to who would have the gumption to come up with such a great title (wouldn't it be a fabbo name for a band?), I paid up, took the tattered book home, tried out the first exercise...and INSTANTLY felt a difference. I'm so serious about this bold statement that I'll say it again: I INSTANTLY felt a difference--in my speed, dexterity, expression, the whole nine yards.

"Oh, sure", you scoff. "Like some ancient piano composer/teacher's little tunes are gonna improve MY bumpus fingers!" Yes, my friend, they will. Why? First and foremost, because they're great tunes. The melodies drag you in and make practicing fun. When was the last time you had fun playing Hanon?

These pieces fly all over the keyboard, and as you get better, you'll speed up too. They're big and epic, so let's face it--you'll feel much cooler than you probably are! And the technique--you'll learn to roll your hands, cross over easily, finger like a pro. They're challenging, too--I've not yet finished the book. If you're a serious, intermediate-level piano student, do yourself a favor and buy Czerny's classic "School of Velocity" collection. You won't regret it.

It is essential for students, Everyone should study Czerny's Studies. It has a good reviewing and the press is really black: you see everynote. The negative point is the book format, it should be spiral formatted, because it is almost impossible to leave this book opened and flat on the piano.

I've been playing the piano for 10 years but I've never had any technical training. This book helps me break bad habits and play with great technical skill. I still have to practice everyday but I feel like I'm getting better each session. From what I understand, this is sort of a must-have for any true piano player. The etudes become more and more difficult as you advance and it really challenges me and pushes me to be better. Buy it!

These are good exercises for lightness and fastness of the fingers; play them with very light, very relaxed hands, relaxed fingers and arms, otherwise it will be very taxing to achieve "velocity" and you will eventually strain yourself. Make sure you do not feel any tension doing these, otherwise, consciously relax the hands. Most of these are like actual pieces, though they are usually just played as exercises. I had done the Hanon and Cramer exercises as a child; they served their purpose. These are more melodically interesting, but more difficult to just sit down and sight-read at tempo. I have to really work at these.

It's all you need to improve your technical skills, nothing else needed, only this book and time

I am a serious piano player, almost went to music school to study it for life...And this is my textbook.