Joan Last

Interpretation in Piano Study

First published in 1960, Joan Last presents her authoritative, commonsense approach to Piano playing that will bring your performances to life. Much more than simply pressing down keys, the art of playing the Piano rests in the ability to capture and convey the essence of a composition, filling each note with character and purpose to create a performance that transcends the notes on the page. Last's detailed and comprehensive guide examines the elements of performance and technique, and discusses how phrasing and dynamic can be informed by the musical arguement and melodic shape. Disciplines discussed include:
- The melodic line
- The fading sound
- Repeated notes
- Slurs
- Staccato
- Accents
- Tonal gradation
- Tonal balance
- Tempo and rhythm
- Continuity