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The First Principles of Pianoforte Playing: Being an Extract From the Author's "The Act of Touch", Designed for School Use and Including Two New Chapt
Hardcover
General MusicMusic Instruction: GeneralMusic Instruction: Piano
ISBN13: 9781025654560
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 152
Weight: 0.86
Height: 0.38 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The First Principles of Pianoforte Playing is an influential pedagogical guide designed to provide a clear and accessible introduction to the physical and artistic requirements of piano performance. Derived from the author's more extensive work, The Act of Touch, this book was specifically adapted for school use to help students master the complexities of keyboard technique through a logical and systematic approach.
The work focuses on the fundamental principles of muscular control and key-treatment, emphasizing the importance of weight-touch and relaxation in producing a quality tone. This volume is particularly valuable for its inclusion of two specialized chapters: one providing direct instructions for learners to improve their practice habits, and another offering professional advice for teachers on how to effectively communicate technical concepts to their pupils. By breaking down the mechanical aspects of playing into understandable components, Tobias Matthay provides a framework that bridges the gap between physical action and musical expression. This text remains a significant historical resource for piano instructors and students seeking to understand the physiological foundations of the Matthay Method and the evolution of modern piano technique.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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Matthay, Tobias
The Act of Touch in All Its Diversity - An Analysis and Synthesis of Pianoforte Tone-Production
Matthay, Tobias
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Four Daily Exercises (First Set of Occasional Technics) - For Advanced Students and Artists
Matthay, Tobias
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Some Commentaries on the Teaching of Pianoforte Technique: A Supplement to The act of Touch and First Principles
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The Act of Touch in All Its Diversity: An Analysis and Synthesis of Pianoforte Tone-Production
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Musical Interpretation, its Laws and Principles, and Their Application in Teaching and Performing
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Relaxation Studies In The Muscular Discriminations Required For Touch, Agility And Expression In Pianoforte Playing
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Musical Interpretation, its Laws and Principles, and Their Application in Teaching and Performing
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Relaxation Studies In The Muscular Discriminations Required For Touch, Agility And Expression In Pianoforte Playing
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On Method In Teaching: Being No. Vi Of Six Lectures On Psychology For Music Teachers
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On Method In Teaching: Being No. Vi Of Six Lectures On Psychology For Music Teachers
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Commentaries on the Teaching of Pianoforte Technique - A Supplement to "The Act of Touch" and "First Principles"
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Tobias Matthay Scores - Studies in the Form of a Suite, Op. 16 - Sheet Music for Piano
Matthay, Tobias
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The Fore-Arm Rotation Principle in Piano Forte Playing - Its Application and Mastery
Matthay, Tobias
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Some Commentaries on the Teaching of Pianoforte Technique; A Supplement to the Act of Touch and First Principles
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Musical Interpretation, Its Laws and Principles, and Their Application in Teaching and Performing
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On Method in Teaching - Being No. VI. of Six Lectures on Psychology for Music Teachers
Matthay, Tobias
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Tobias Matthay Scores - Five Cameos for Miniature Players, Op. 29 - Sheet Music for Piano
Matthay, Tobias
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Tobias Matthay Scores - Three Lyric Studies, Op. 33 - Sheet Music for Piano
Matthay, Tobias
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