Have the student couple the two registers to create the loudest sound possible and again acquaint himself with the new feel and sound. The lute stop provides another option for varying the sound, in this case, to resemble the guitar or harp. Now that the introductions are complete, assign a piece that the student can perform on the harpsichord the following week. Students need to be free to concentrate on the unique touch and sound of this instrument, so they should thoroughly work out a piece before trying it on the harpsichord. The choice of repertoire can be as varied as your students.
Beginners enjoy playing almost anything on it.
An added bonus is that small fingers and muscles can more easily play legato on a harpsichord than on a piano. Intermediate and advanced students can choose between the Baroque repertoire and contemporary works. Many Christmas tunes that date from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries sound fresh when performed on this instrument. At this stage of a student's acquaintance with the instrument, make it clear that the harpsichord is not a toy, but a serious and valid alternative keyboard instrument. Let students have fun exploring all of the sound possibilities during the introductory session, but when they begin serious study of a piece, have them use only the eight-foot register.