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 and the repertoire to develop those skills.

Many resources for intermediate-level piano repertoire list many 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 Johann Burgmuller, Cecile Chaminade, Cornelius Gurlitt, Edvard Grieg, Robert Schumann, and Peter Ilyich Tschaikowsky are included as well as additional miscellaneous works celebrating lesser-known composers whose music deserves greater attention. These pieces span the entire range of intermediate-level piano, providing a useful developmental compendium of Romantic style repertoire. Also included are annotated listings of each piece focusing on foundational musical elements. Independent piano teachers and piano students will find this an invaluable resource.