Books of Interest

The excellent books listed below are known to float in and out of print, as expected with specialty subject matter. An open Google search is recommended in addition to the links provided to gain a better overview of purchasing choices. In addition to Amazon, feel free to inquire at ThriftBooks, AbeBooks, World of Books, and eBay. 

Practice Guides for the Elementary Through Intermediate Piano Student: Piano Practice and Performance, by Barry & Linda Wehrli.

This guide is for the beginner and intermediate piano student. Barry Wehrli succeeds where other authors fail, presenting the tried and true practice routines essential for real progress. Chapter 2 alone is well worth the price of the book, and states better than any book on piano pedagogy the importance of clear intentions. There are no wasted words or digressions, and the book flows forward effortlessly. If your practice has become aimless, wandering, and lacking in progress, then Wehrli’s “Piano Practice and Performance: will provide a workable format you can put into action immediately.

Fanny Waterman, On Piano Teaching and Performing.

With decades of experience as a celebrated piano teacher in England and the founder of the esteemed Leeds International Piano Competition, Dame Waterman’s brief book is a treasure trove of wisdom. It offers a warm, welcoming guide filled with valuable insights for both intermediate students and seasoned teachers. Drawing on over 50 years of teaching at the highest level, Fanny Waterman shares practical tips and thoughtful observations to help you develop mastery at the keyboard. It's a highly recommended read for dedicated students eager to succeed in their craft. 

The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences. Alfred Pub.

This reference book covers all Major and Minor scales (Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic) as well as Chromatic scales, along with instructions on basic chords. It is easy to read and includes illustrations for better understanding. A very useful resource for any pianist. Clear printing and an easy-to-follow format. 

Hand Technique

Pianists dedicate most of their practice time to developing finger articulation, accuracy, speed, elasticity, and other aspects of technique. The exercises listed below are some of the most commonly used by pianists across generations. Like medicine, technical exercises are most effective when used strategically rather than indiscriminately.

Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises. Alfred, Pub.

The most famous book of piano exercises is best known for its ‘five-finger’ exercises that benefit piano students at the beginner to intermediate levels. It includes scales, arpeggios, octaves, and various configurations. This volume is most effective when used with a teacher who carefully determines which exercises are practically valuable for the student.

Hanon’s introduction to his volume continues to spark discussion, which is understandable given the bold claims he made about achieving virtuosic results—claims that are easily challenged. It's worth noting that Hanon was primarily a publisher, rather than a pianist or teacher. Still, his volume, which builds on Alois Schmitt’s “Preparatory Exercises, Opus 16,” can be quite helpful when used alongside guidance from an experienced piano teacher. 

My free YouTube tutorial offers a helpful and detailed guide to help you make the most of Hanon exercises.  https://www.youtube.com/@BakerPianoStudio-p5w

Carl Czerny: Practical Methods for Beginners on the Pianoforte, Opus 599. 

Czerny’s exercises have been considered the most important technique-builder for over two hundred years. Once again, I recommend practicing them under the guidance of a professional piano teacher. Listed below are two of the most widely used volumes. Designed for beginner to intermediate piano students, Czerny’s Opus 599 develops articulation, interval familiarity, as well as basic agility, strength, and accuracy. Exercises start at the elementary level and progressively advance into the intermediate stage.

The School of Velocity, Opus 299. 

A standard in the piano literature for intermediate to advanced students to develop speed and clarity of articulation. These exercises are in a semi-musical form that makes them more appealing to the student than strictly repetitive drills. Conscientious practice of these etudes has proved immensely useful to generations of pianists who aspired to achieve an advanced level.

Essential Finger Exercises, by Ernst Von Dohnanyi. 

For the late-intermediate to advanced student. These challenging exercises increase finger independence, strength, and security. Specific exercises with large extensions should be used carefully to avoid over-straining smaller hand sizes.   

Theory Books

Alfred’s Complete Essentials of Music Theory. 

A comprehensive guide that takes music students from elementary to advanced levels. Like all theory books, it is not 'entertaining' reading, but a useful reference for all basic categories of music theory. It is best used in conjunction with a music teacher. 

Pocket Music Theory, by Wyatt & Schroeder. Hal Leonard, Pub. 

This compact volume is remarkably comprehensive for its small size and easily fits into a pocket. Written in a conversational style that avoids the tedium of most theory books. Inexpensive, packed with necessary information, and easy to read.  

History of Piano Performance 

The Great Pianists, from Mozart to the Present [Pub. 1972]. by Harold C. Schoberg. 

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author, Schonberg, offers vivid and often witty accounts of the artists' styles, personalities, and influence on their contemporaries. Starting with C.P.E. Bach, the book moves through each generation up to 1972. The author demonstrates extensive research, yet the narrative flows smoothly. The renowned concert virtuosos from Clementi to Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, and many others are praised for their contributions to the art form. Isuggest trying to find an original USED edition of this beautiful book online, as the recent reprints tend to have a printing quality that’s a bit blurry and harder to read. 

Men, Women, & Pianists. A Social History, by Arthur Loesser. Pub. 1954.

This engaging overview takes you through the captivating history of the piano as a beloved cultural symbol over the past four centuries. Even though it's a comprehensive 654-page journey, each chapter is thoughtfully crafted to be easy to read, blending fascinating social history from Western Europe and America as the piano became a key part of musical life.

For Advanced Pianists 

I could easily suggest dozens of books tailored for advanced pianists. While there's no single book that serves as a complete guide to developing advanced technique, these books offer something special; they are thoughtful reflections by experienced pianists who also teach, sharing their hard-earned wisdom on how to navigate the unique challenges faced by advanced students. 

The Art of Piano Playing, by Heinrich Neuhaus. 

Written in an informal yet erudite style, Neuhaus speaks directly to advanced students and teachers with sage advice on technique, fingering, pedaling, and the various challenges of acquiring mastery at the keyboard.  

This is not a how-to manual, but rather the insights from one of the greatest piano teachers of the 20th century (Sviatoslav Richter, among his students). Like all books by great pianists and teachers, it is up to the reader to extract what is of value to their own development. Out of print for decades, it is once again available. 

Notes from the Pianist’s Bench, by Boris Berman.

Claude Frank describes this volume as ‘the book is neither too elementary nor too advanced for any pianist, piano teacher, or piano lover. It is informative, inspiring, and entertaining”. With decades of experience as a concert pianist and teacher, Berman speaks with warmth, wisdom, and a deep understanding.