The beginnings of piano playing of children play an important role in laying quality pianistic groundings, which are crucial for their further pianistic development as well as for building their relationship with the instrument and music itself. This thesis is devoted to the study of elementary piano teaching of children aged 5-7 years. The aim of the thesis is to map the current state of piano pedagogy in Czech Republic and to propose optimal methodological procedures and solutions in the initial piano lessons based on modern pedagogical approaches and the needs of contemporary piano pedagogy. In five chapters of the work, this goal will be achieved by examining the historical background of piano schools in Bohemia over the centuries to this day, by setting up theoretical and practical bases for the researched issue and finally by research itself. Within the framework of practical bases, which served as a basis for subsequent research, an optimal methodological approach to teaching in the early stage of piano playing was proposed for children aged 5-7 years, which corresponds to the most modern requirements of the field. The optimal selection and arrangement of sheet music for the given area of pedagogy was also designed with a focus on Czech and foreign piano schools and instructive piano...

The essay begins with the overview of Russian-Soviet piano music from the second half of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century. Then, biographical information about Sergei Slonimsky and an overview of his major compositions is provided. The majority of the paper focuses on Slonimsky's Sonata for Piano (1963). A brief discussion of the Sonata's compositional history is followed by the formal analysis of the overall structure of the work. Slonimsky's original principle of organization of the music is emphasized: the system of constant interrelation of the main thematic material combined with elements of the sonata-allegro form. In the analysis of the harmonic language of the piece, the composer's extensive use of Russian folk elements such as diatonic melodies, sigh motives, parallel triads, and simultaneous use of the lower third with the major triad is pointed out. The rest of the paper focuses on issues of interpretation and performance. Special notice is given to the problem of incorporating a percussive type of playing with the elements of folk cantilena singing. The paper concludes with the history of Sonata's performances and a discussion of current recordings.

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twenty-four preludes written by Claude Debussy. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon Debussy and his compositions.

The lecture recital, "Thema med Variationer, Opus 40, By Carl Nielsen" presented a discussion of the composer's general background and the characteristics of his style. Specific points made were related to the Thema med Variationer; the discussion was followed by a performance of the work in its entirety. In addition to the lecture recital, three other recital programs were organized and public concerts presented to provide the platform for the works studied. Two of these programs were of solo piano music and one was of chamber music with the clarinet and viola in partnership with the piano. All programs were recorded on magnetic recording tape. The spoken portion of the lecture recital in written form is filed with the recordings as a part of this dissertation.

Quartet -- Bagatelle-Kyrie eleison -- Déploration. / Wu Ming-yiu. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Table of Contents --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Compositions / Chapter 1. --- Quartet --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Bagatelle - Kyrie eleison --- p.34 / Chapter 3. --- Deploration --- p.47

Neste trabalho discutimos três estudos de caso com o objetivo de investigar empiricamente a modelagem como ferramenta de estudo no desenvolvimento musical e pianístico de alunos do Bacharelado em Instrumento/Piano da UFRGS. Durante a pesquisa, cada um dos três participantes foi instruído a ouvir atentamente uma gravação de pianista de renome internacional como modelo a ser seguido. Na etapa da coleta de dados, os participantes realizaram três gravações de dois trechos contrastantes de uma obra do seu repertório e gravaram cinco entrevistas semiestruturadas. A análise dos dados baseou-se nos relatos sobre as preocupações referentes aos trechos escolhidos, nas reflexões sobre os efeitos da modelagem, na observação das características de suas interpretações após a modelagem e na análise do andamento e da condução do tempo musical. Para isso, utilizamos o software Sonic Visualiser. A análise de dados juntamente com o conjunto de entrevistas individuais comprovam nossa hipótese de que a modelagem incrementa e amplia os recursos expressivos dos participantes, incentiva a autonomia e individualidade de suas interpretações e potencializa a audição crítica e a reflexão sobre processos de estudo. / This research presents three case studies aiming at empirically investigating modeling as a learning tool for the musical and pianistic development of undergraduate students. Each one of the three students was instructed to critically listen to the recording of a famous pianist as a model to be followed. Data collection combined three recording sessions of two contrasting excerpts already in the students repertoire and five semi- structured interviews. The analysis of the resulting data was based on individual reports concerning the selected musical segments as well as their reflection on learning processes in relation to the model, observations of interpretive characteristics after the modeling and analysis of timing and choices of musical tempo. The chosen software was Sonic Visualiser. Data analysis in combination with the sets of individual interviews confirmed our initial hypothesis that modeling increases and widens the their interpretations, potentiates critical listening and promotes reflection on learning processes.

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This thesis deals in particular with the pianist's approach to the Brahms Sonata for Piano and Violin in D Minor, Opus 108. There are two chapters, the first of which takes the form of a bibliography in which different theoretical aspects for consideration in the learning of the work are presented. One of the sections in the first chapter which is entitled The Pianist, should prove helpful to a prospective piano teacher, as well as a student of the Brahms Sonata in D Minor, Opus 10 8. In this section sources presenting different solutions to technical problems which the pianist is likely to encounter both generally, and specifically with regard to this Sonata, are listed. The other sections in this chapter include a discography and comments concerning recordings of the Sonata in D Minor, Opus 108, which a student of this work and its composer may consult. The second chapter of the thesis deals with specific issues involved in the interpretation based on my performance of the Sonata in D Minor, Opus 108, for the practical examination. Three other possible interpretations by well-known pianists are briefly evaluated. Attached to the thesis is a cassette tape on which recommendations for the practising of certain passages may be heard. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1989.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2007. / Compact discs.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral investigar o perfil de formação e atuação dos professores de piano de Porto Alegre/RS. Os objetivos específicos procuraram caracterizar a formação dos professores de piano, caracterizar a atuação dos docentes e identificar as razões e/ou motivações da escolha profissional. Para analisar os dados, este trabalho se apoiou em alguns princípios teóricos baseados na profissionalização do ensino, de acordo com Ramalho, Nuñez e Gauthier (2004). Como método de pesquisa, foi realizado um survey interseccional com professores atuantes no ensino de piano em Porto Alegre e a amostra “bola de neve” foi a estratégia utilizada para se obter as indicações desses professores. Os dados foram obtidos através de um questionário auto-administrado que foi respondido por 104 professores. Os resultados revelaram que os professores que estão atuando com o ensino do piano, em Porto Alegre, parecem aproximar-se dos modelos de professor improvisado, professor artesão e professor como profissional, segundo os modelos baseados em Ramalho, Nuñez e Gauthier (2004). / The purpose of this study is to investigate the profile of piano teachers in Porto Alegre/RS, as to their formation and performance. Other goals include the characterization of these teachers’ formation and their involvement as teachers, identifying the reasons and/or motives of this professional choice. For the analysis of the data, this research is sustained by established theoretical principles in the professionalization of education according to Ramalho, Nuñez and Gauthier (2004). As for the research method, an intersectional survey with active piano teachers in Porto Alegre was conducted; the sample “snow ball” was employed as the strategy to obtain indications from these teachers. The data was gathered through an automanaged questionnaire which was answered by 104 teachers. The results showed that the teachers who are active as piano teachers in Porto Alegre seem to approach the models for the improvised teacher, the teacher craftsman and the professional teacher, according to models based on Ramalho, Nuñez and Gauthier (2004).