Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing: Indispensables of Piano Playing and Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays: Amazon.ca: Abby Whiteside: Books

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Two of piano pedagogue Abby Whiteside's most influential essays, "Indispensables of Piano Playing," from 1955, and "Mastering the Chopin Etudes," from 1969, are reprinted in this volume, along with several shorter pieces. Whiteside's iconoclastic but firmly held beliefs are still provocative: "the pianist cannot control tone quality," "the importance of a prescribed fingering is practically nil," and "time spent on scales is not used to best advantage" are among them. But Whiteside backs up her ideas persuasively, and even pianists who cannot go along with her all the way will likely find themselves altering aspects of their techniques.

Whiteside bases all pianism on motions of the upper arms (confusingly called "top arms" in "Indispensables") and de-emphasizes anything to do with the fingers. She sees the forearm and fingers only as extensions of the upper arm, which is responsible for speed and accuracy. She is good at imagery in pressing her points: skating, jazz players, and untrained children are recurrent points of reference. Another of her main principles, the idea of basic rhythm, is well characterized by musical examples.

Readers would do well to begin with the foreword to "Mastering the Chopin Etudes" (written by Joseph Prostakoff and Sophia Rosoff, whose teaching is still based on the Whiteside principles), which helpfully clarifies some of the ideas from the outsider's perspective. "Mastering" refines many of the points from "Indispensables," and is best read first. Although "Indispensables" is divided into chapters, much of the same material is covered all the way through, and there is a great deal of overlap with "Mastering." Undoubtedly, there are some ideas in these essays that made complete sense only from the source herself, but there is much here of benefit to pianists of all levels. --William R. Braun --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

This volume by the revolutionary piano instructor combines her volumes Indispensables of Piano Playing (1955) with Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays (1969). A bargain for any music collection.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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12 Reviews

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3.9 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary guide to piano technique, May 7 2004

By

Robert Badger (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing: Indispensables of Piano Playing and Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays (Paperback)

The late Abby Whiteside was seen (and probably still is seen) as a heretic in the piano world. Yet, she was a truly dedicated teacher and a teacher devoted to developing tools and techniques so that all her students could advance. Her techniques are nothing short of revolutionary. I'm an organist, and I've been able to put many of her techniques at work with the organ.

Abby Whiteside did not possess the gift of writing. Her books are difficult reading. You must read and re-read whole sections. So much of what she deals with centres around physical sensations. These things are difficult, in and of themselves, to put into words.

I must take issue with a previous reviewer. A previous reviewer had stated that Abby Whiteside had not produced any major pianists. This is simply not true. The late pianist and composer Robert Helps was a student of hers. He specialised in 20th century music and he was particularly renowned for his skill at interpreting the thorny piano works of Roger Sessions. His technical were indeed formidable. The late Morton Gould studied with her. He posessed a fantastic technique, too. The composer David del Tredici is another Whiteside student.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Her ideas will ruin you as a player, Feb 14 2004

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sinistermidget - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing: Indispensables of Piano Playing and Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays (Paperback)

I find it disturbing that Abby Whiteside takes such an extremist view of the piano, yet she produced no students of importance. That alone is reason for her ideas to not be adopted. I admit there are some good ideas contained in the book, but all of them can be found in other books by authors who can actually write a coherent sentence (something Whiteside does infrequently). I can't comprehend why Whiteside is willing to dimiss centuries of pedagogical practice that has been proven time and time again. Not that there isn't room for new ideas, but saying everything is wrong but your (Whiteside's) view is extreme. My experience is that a teacher who is so willing to dismiss any ideas aside from their own, is not a good teacher. Take a look at any of the pedagogical books published by Dover or the book by Sandor. All of these have great advice and none take an extreme stance on the topics they discuss.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, albeit possibly deceptive, Oct 16 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing: Indispensables of Piano Playing and Mastering the Chopin Etudes and Other Essays (Paperback)

I am getting a master's degree in piano performance right now and this book was one of the first of many that I read when I started to analyze my own technique after realizing that I was doing nearly everything in a stiff, inefficient manner. Since working with a teacher that was able to turn my technique around, I've gone back to this book several times and each time I find something new. Especially important was the realization that the "fundemental" or "basic" rhythm of which Abby Whiteside speaks really is the ONLY way to achieving an effortless technique, and that gestures with the torso and the arms, once perfected, give one the feeling that all of the small muscular contractions needed for finger and hand articulation are virtually involuntary reflexes. It is not so simple, however, since fingertips give us the tactile sensation which we base these very arm/torso gestures on (when I point to something, the finger points and the arm follows, I don't "point with my arm"). Thus, a reader who doesn't know about the interosseous muscles of the hand (which provide support the same way as the arch of the foot provides support) might find himself flopping about the keyboard trying to do everything with the larger muscles instead of working to integrate all of the muscles. This book should be read in conjunction with other books and should be re-read as one's technique improves. All of the "classic" books on technique really describe the same sensation, the only difference being which particular points are most important in the experience of the author. Still, though, the book is incredible and every pianist who lusts after speed AND ease should read it...I also recommend "The Pianists Talent" by Harold Taylor, which provides insight into posture and "touch," which are two things that this book does not really address.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, genius, Abby Whiteside
I'm a concert pianist. I've played all over the world. I had already won several important competitions when I came in contact with Indispensibles. Read more

Published on May 25 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my life
I would like to urge all pianists with a serious interest in piano technique to read this book CAREFULLY and SLOWLY. Read more

Published on Mar 19 2001 by Neely Bruce