The Craft of Piano Playing: A New Approach to Piano Technique
The most detailed and intensive study of the subject since Otto Ortmann's seminal work,The Physiological Mechanics of Piano Technique (1929).  --PIANO Magazine UK (Nov-Dec 2004)Astoundingly profound knowledge of body movement and structure... avoids the dryness of many pedagogical manuals... delivered with wit, charm, and a strong clarity of intention and thought... incredibly user friendly.  --ISSTIP UK Journal (Jan 2004)A formidable and insightful volume on piano tech­nique. A course based on these 417 articulate and often eloquent pages alone strikes me as a possibility for a pedagogy teacher.  --American Music Teacher (Oct-Nov 2003)All teachers and piano students should acquire this book... well-devised, carefully structured, laced with humour and resonates with Fraser's thinking: we need more exuberance, colour and life in our playing. --Piano Professional (EPTA UK) Jan 2004Alan Fraser has written a formidable and insightful volume on piano technique. Using the Feldenkreis Method as his foundation, he has presented 417 articulate and often eloquent pages....the teacher working with younger students might find his book of great interest...I am pleased to recommend Fraser's book... (Louis NagelAmerican Music Teacher)This study is the result of years of searching and thinking about piano performance and pedagogy; Fraser brings to it his astoundingly profound knowledge of body movement and structure, acquired through his training as a practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method, and his study of Eastern martial arts such as T'ai chi, in addition to extensive experience as a concert performer and pedagogue...Fraser challenges many common pedagogical beliefs and ideas of movement, with detailed discussions of such areas as arm weight and the role of the arm, legato playing and natural finger shape among others. Although this study is devoted primarily to the physical aspect of playing the piano...fascinating insights and ideas are also provided into the middleground and background, namely rhythm and phrasing, and the emotional content of music. (Manus CareyJournal Of The Isstip)There are many useful ideas here, not just in the technical exercises, but also in the shorter sections on communication and interpretation. (Classical Music)The most detailed and intensive study of the subject since Otto Ortmann's seminal work,The Physiological Mechanics of Pianoforte Technique(1929). (Daniel StearnsPiano Magazine)All serious piano students should acquire this book, which is well-devised, carefully structured, and always laced with humour on this very serious topic…... (Nadia LassersonJournal Of The European Piano Teachers' Association Uk)Fraser fills his book with interesting observations, procedures, and thought-provoking personal concepts. Recommended. (Choice)...there are topics in this text not really addressed elsewhere. It would make a good 'alternative' pedagogy text for courses about piano technique and a thought-provoking read for the advanced pianist. (Michael I. GoodeAmerican Music Teacher)...a valuable addition to performance studies, communicating some of the passion (rarely found in this and other areas of study) that the author feels for the music under discussion. (Music And Letters)