Don't Look at the Keys! (Book 3)
Composer: Richard Smith
Part of the Eye For Ideas Series.
Catalogue no: CM323 | ISMN M-57034-323-2
Making sight reading easier and more effective. A progressive set of imaginative pieces to take students and teachers step by step through the technique. Each of the three books starts with clear instruction and enjoyable exercises for students and teachers. Book 1 starts with a demonstration and explanation of the technique of navigating by touch around the piano keyboard using as signposts the long cracks between B and C, E and F together with the groups of two and three black notes. The pieces in Book 1 have both hands in a five finger position, illustrated at the top of the page, together with the key (in the first book, these keys encompass Grades 1 & 2 sight reading syllabus). Early pieces in the Book are played hands separately, the later ones hands together. Book 2 extends this to an octave range using the keyboard geography of scales and arpeggios, followed by a selection of attractive pieces. Book 3 has wider leaps using all the keyboard. The instruction uses broken chords, arpeggios and finger substitution together with short exercises. All pieces offer a wide variety of styles to practise these essential skills. An appendix in Book 3 gives students the chance to demonstrate progress to audiences and themselves with two extended pieces. As music is essentially a listening experience it is almost instinctive for pianists to look down at the keyboard for visual reassurance to guide the fingers when playing. This is particularly true when playing from memory or improvising. Why should I buy this series? They are the only books to INSTRUCT AND ENCOURAGE PLAYING THE PIANO BY TOUCH and include a wide ranging selection of imaginative pieces specifically written to practise the technique. They are not another series of sight reading practice books of which there are many good ones already on the market. They progressively build confidence to look at the music instead of the hands to help those many students who commit pieces to memory or play by ear, then wonder what to do with their eyes while playing.
Solo piano
An Introduction to Don't Look At The Keys
