24 Character Preludes: Piano Book & CD

Alexander writes preludes that sound like real music while teaching genuine pianistic problems. Each piece targets a specific technical challenge or musical style without feeling like an etude, and the inclusion of his own recordings provides students with professional performance models they can study at home.

These preludes breathe with personality. You'll find moments of lyrical Mendelssohnian grace, crisp twentieth century wit, impressionistic color, and classical restraint. The variety keeps the collection fresh across 24 keys, and each piece unfolds with enough sophistication to satisfy a growing musician without overwhelming the learning process.

Late intermediate to early advanced pianists who are ready to explore genuine character pieces and broaden their stylistic vocabulary. This collection works especially well for students preparing for more demanding nineteenth and twentieth century repertoire and for those who benefit from guided technical challenges within a musical context.

• Study the composer's recorded version first to understand the character and stylistic intent of each prelude before diving into technical work.
• Identify the primary pianistic problem each piece addresses (hand independence, voicing, pedal technique, etc.) and make that the focus of your practice rather than trying to solve everything at once.
• Reference the major and minor composers echoed in each prelude (Bach, Mendelssohn, Debussy, and others) by listening to their own character pieces; this contextual knowledge deepens interpretation.
• Record yourself regularly against the accompanied CD to build confidence and catch rhythmic or interpretive drift.

Assign these strategically as bridges between method book progression and the classical repertoire canon. A single prelude or small group of them work beautifully in student recitals, or use them as technical preparation for larger works students are learning in other study. The variety of keys and styles means you can match individual pieces to each student's current goals and interests.

• Sight-reading and familiarity across all 24 major and minor keys
• Stylistic interpretation (Baroque, Romantic, Impressionist, and twentieth century idioms)
• Specific pianistic techniques (voice leading, pedal control, hand independence, dynamic shaping)
• Quick learning and performance confidence through focused technical study
• Ear training through listening to professional recordings alongside their own practice