Developing Intermediate-Level Piano Performance with Romantic Style Repertoire

An innovative, systematic approach to piano pedagogy that focuses on the mastery of foundational musical and technical skills through representative Romantic style repertoire.

Oftentimes, intermediate-level piano repertoire resources list countless pieces from all historical style periods but only provide limited, general information about individual pieces or skills. Lori Ellen Rhoden provides a detailed exploration of key musical elements – including melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, technique, articulation, fingering, pedaling, and musical expression – found in intermediate-level Romantic style piano repertoire. For each element, Rhoden identifies concepts and skills that influence important technical, musical, and interpretive aspects of a piece. By emphasizing the mastery of concepts and skills in manageable settings and using the repertoire as a vehicle to achieve that goal, this book explores many aspects of technique and musicianship that are often only covered in more advanced piano study. It helps prepare students to become independent musicians who can approach unfamiliar repertoire with confidence.

Repertoire collections by Amy Beach, Johann Burgmüller, Cécile Chaminade, William Gillock, Cornelius Gurlitt, Edvard Grieg, Robert Schumann, and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky are included. Independent piano teachers and piano pedagogy students will find this a comprehensive, developmental compendium of Romantic style repertoire.

Author Biography

Lori Ellen Rhoden is Professor of Music Performance (Piano) and Coordinator of Piano Pedagogy/Group Piano at Ball State University, USA. She enjoys an active career as a pianist, clinician, and teacher. A Fulbright Specialist Grant recipient, she has performed and taught in China, Korea, Canada, and throughout the United States. She is the Piano Program Director for the summer MasterWorks Festival and has received the Indiana Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year and Distinguished Service awards.