Pianism

Book excerpt: Distinguished pianist and pedagogue Aiko Onishi sums up her wide-ranging knowledge about the piano and music-making in "Piansim.""What other source describes the different physical gestures required to produce so many different kinds of sound?--not just singing tones, but also, for example, harmonious tones, colorless tones, rich chordal tones, and bell-like tones."With imaginative metaphors and similes, Ms. Onishi suggests how to analyze a score for expressive musical communication. She supplies us with practical suggestions for learning repertoire, memorizing, and preparing for performance. Just her observations about pedaling make this book indispensable."In my view, Aiko Onishi's 'Pianism' is a landmark in the literature about playing the piano. It is an invaluable resource for teachers and for students from the earliest years of study on through the artist level."Nelita TrueProfessor and Chair, Piano FacultyEastman School of Music