'Mastery of Piano Technique' comprises four volumes with 18+ hours of illustrated videos and 35+ hours of open lessons with a fellow pianist. It is a comprehensive guide for professional pianists, focusing on mental practice, inner singing, efficient hand motion, and confident stage performance.
This program is designed for advanced pianists pursuing their Bachelor's, Master's, or D.M.A. degrees in Piano Performance. Strong sight-reading and singing skills are required. Authored by Emma Leiuman, a classical pianist with extensive training and performance experience, including being a prize winner in international competitions. She's the creator of The PianoWell system, a teaching method for advanced pianists.
The playlist Mastery of Piano Technique playlist available for free on YouTube provides previews of the videos from the course, offering additional insight into the content.
VOL II expands on familiar aspects of mental practice—sound imagination and inner singing. It delves into expressing harmony's colors, broadening dynamics, and refining voicing. Additionally, the course teaches 15 articulation types, practicing common ones with accurate intonation and hand motion. It advances 3D wrist motion, teaching how to play pianissimo, fortissimo, legato, two-note slur, détaché, staccato, tenuto, and accent in a robust and healthy manner.
It's recommended to study VOL I first to better understand concepts discussed in VOL II.
The PDF includes linked videos and materials, and an interactive online version with weekly updates is available.
I recommend avoiding previous repertoire during this course to prevent confusion in memory while learning new skills. Ideal study time is during a gap year, dedicating 4 hours/day solely to practicing.
Each program topic involves 3 steps, taking about a week to complete:
- Review topic and watch relevant video: 1 hour
- Watch an open lesson video: 1 hour
- Practice following a practice video: 2-4 hours
By following this plan, the retraining program can be completed within 6 months (1.5 months per volume).