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by Sylvain Nowe (Contribution by), Frank Mento (Author)
Here is a complete harpsichord method for children and even all beginners! It was while teaching harpsichord in Education Action Zones (UK), or in Affirmative Action Areas (USA), that I noticed that a great effort still remained necessary to make the learning of this instrument accessible. The goal of this method is to favorize in a pleasant manner the learning and localization of the most commonly played notes, motor skills, as well as hand coordination and displacement by way of Basso Continuo, Diminutions, Articulations and Sight-reading. This project was born thanks to the pupils and their needs. It is the fruit of 12 years of planning and experimenting in real life situations. This approach parts from the standpoint that the beginning pupil has no previous musical knowledge.Volume 1 of 10Here, we are starting from nothing. It is the ABC's of music. The basics of learning and localizing notes are laid down, as well as the first steps in touch, hand coordination and displacement, motor skills, and articulation.Volume 2 of 10This volume is a transitory phase. It contains less pages, but there is more to do. We reinforce the skills acquired in Volume 1, and prepare the pupil to play more important pieces. We introduce the English virginalists and their ornamentation. The pupil is going to play pieces where each hand plays several notes. We begin a study of Major scales in historical fingerings, introduce historical exercises, and the concept of notes inégales. We also begin a study of Basso Continuo and Diminutions.Volume 3 of 10We continue our study of Basso Continuo and Diminutions. We study selections from suites and introduce polyphony and the unmeasured prelude.Volume 4 of 10This volume discusses J.S. Bach's fingering. The pieces are considerably longer. We continue our study of Articulations. The German, French, Italian, and English Schools are represented here.Volume 5 of 10We complete our study of Diminutions and start a study of Ornamention from the period 1680-1750 and how to incorporate it in the repertoire. We introduce the Dutch School and study exercises Bach might have known.ContentsCheck out individual volumes for content description
