Customer Reviews

Twenty-Five Easy and Progressive Studies for the Piano, Op. 100: Piano Solo

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll start with a preface: I have been playing piano for four years, I started when I was 18, and aside from six one-unit community college classes, I've never had any formal training. That said, this book is (in my opinion) a little tougher than the first "First Lessons in Bach" book and at the end is still easier than most of the second "First Lessons" Bach book. It fits squarely in the middle, which would be a good run up towards Schumann's Album Für Die Jugend or a book of Bach's inventions.

Also it would be useful for an accomplished pianist to run through these as one would Hanon or Czerny, only these are actual songs, which helps to break up the monotony of finger exercises. Not to say Hanon or Czerny aren't important; diversity is simply a good thing to have.

I'm a total amateur, and I was looking for something less intense than Bach, less repititious than Hanon, and less insane than Czerny. Burgmüllers Twenty-Five Easy and Progressive Studes fits the bill nicely.

I started taking lessons at 8, with Ferdinand Beyer's beginner's book, which deserves the highest praise, though it's not widely used in this country. After Beyer, I proceeded with this book, Burgmuller's 25 pieces. Each song has a title, and each song trains you not only technically, but how to express, how to interpret, how to use your imagination, and most of all, how to play beautifully. The pieces are easy, but they are of quality which advanced students can play them in really professional ways. That means, these pieces have depth that challenges the student's true musicality, imagination, and creativity.

I have owned this book for more than 35 years now, still in very good shape despite the heavy usage. I am much more advanced now, of course, but I still use it frequently. These pieces can be played, for their beauty, grace, and integrity, at church, wedding, etc. I can't count how many of my church congregation have expressed their appreciation whenever I played any one of the pieces. They are just such precious jewels of music.

Now I teach piano at home, and this book has been a delight for both my students and myself. I'd say these pieces are just as immortal as Bach's inventions. I'd recommend this book to anyone, from beginner to advanced students. It's for advanced beginners (if there are such thing), but very much enjoyable for even professional pianists, for whoever truly appreciates and loves music.

I use this book for all my students and they love it! The pieces are very nice. They make learning piano technique and artistry really enjoyable. This book is for the intermediate students. Better to use this book after students learn scales, chords, and arpeggios so they can learn the pieces by recognizing patterns, which make them learn the pieces faster. Highly recommended!

I have very limited, beginning ability on the piano and with reading music. This book is a wonderful place to develop and practice. The pieces do not start out overly simple and are progressively more complex. Each piece introduces some new musical elements (accidentals, key change, triplets, etc). All exercise both left and right hands. And all are enjoyable to hear.

Because the pieces are all fairly short, I began playing from memory more than from the written music. To counter that, I suggest playing three or four during a practice session.

By the way, with a little googling you can find MIDI renditions of these songs on the internet to compare with your playing.

Beautiful short pieces that are not too complicated but provide plenty of opportunity for technical development. This book is a must for students who are advanced in their reading but need to polish up their technical abilities before going on to the "larger" classics. Or for students who have been working on complex music and need a little break to revisit expression and technique.

This is well put together. Good for reviewing the basics. Good scores and nothing terribly difficult. This book is for retention of the simplistic steps we all seem to forget. When I feel lazy this is a good piece to turn to. But I find it reminds me of the short cuts I tend to allow myself but shouldn't! Glad I have this and highly recommend it to others.

These are so much fun to play, and very attainable. My daughter has only been playing piano for a year, and she is very motivated to learn some of these, and is doing quite well! Again, for an experience player, these are just great for keeping up your skills and playing when time is limited. They are very enjoyable.

I shouldn't have skimped on a few dollars. I should have ordered the slightly more expensive version of this. The print is not very crisp. In fact, I would say a couple of pages the print is rather faded. Hard on the eyes! So I don't recommend getting this version.

Just arrived, can't wait to play piece No. 1. Its not too hard not too easy. I think practicing a few pieces can play pop piano. Compare to John Thomson, each lesson in John Thomson add a little bit new thing, but never like a performing piece. Use this with John Thomson can make progress faster. Since my goal is to master basic as then progress toward Jazz, pop and blues, these exercises may help a lot.

Something I think this studies are too aggressive, the tempo is ultra fast. The speed indicates crotchet = 152, and there are a lot semi-quavers. I don't know when can I play up to this speed.

Some of my background:

I am self taught, just started a few months. Playing classic guitar before playing piano.

Every teacher should have this album in the library, and every intermediate student should play these pieces. They are musical, and provide a variety of touches, expressions, and techniques for the developing musician.