At the Piano with Scarlatti: Piano Book

This edition strips away the guesswork by providing historically informed guidance on articulation, ornamentation, and pedaling, details that separate stilted performances from ones that genuinely sing. Intermediate students often struggle with Baroque keyboard music because the notation leaves so much unsaid; having the editorial commentary right there transforms practice from frustration into discovery. The inclusion of metronome markings gives students a concrete sense of tempo without sacrificing stylistic flexibility.

Scarlatti's sonatas pulse with wit and vigor. They surprise you with sudden key shifts and rhythmic quirks, then settle into passages of surprising tenderness, all within a span of just a few minutes. There is a sense of forward momentum throughout, an almost conversation-like quality where musical ideas spark against one another.

Intermediate and late intermediate pianists ready to move beyond simplified Baroque repertoire and engage with the real thing. This book is ideal for students preparing for auditions, festival competitions, or simply wanting to round out their classical foundation with works that demand both technical skill and musical maturity.

• Study the ornament realizations before playing through the full sonata; Scarlatti's trills and turns follow Baroque conventions that differ from later styles, and understanding the written-out version trains your ear for authentic articulation.
• Treat hand crossings as structural moments, not stumbling blocks. The music often highlights them for dramatic effect, so let the audience see and hear the gesture rather than smoothing it away.
• Experiment with pedal sparingly and selectively. The historical notes guide when sustain serves the harmony versus when it muddies the texture; trust that guidance as you develop your own instincts.
• Resist the urge to slow down for rapid scalar passages. Scarlatti wrote these at specific tempos for a reason; maintaining forward momentum keeps the energy alive and reveals the harmonic motion underneath.

Feature one of these sonatas as a solo recital opener to set a bright, sophisticated tone, or pair several with works by Bach and Handel to create a Baroque keyboard survey. They also work beautifully as contrast pieces within a mixed program, offering relief from weightier Romantic or contemporary works while maintaining the audience's engagement.

• Stylistically appropriate ornamentation and articulation in Baroque keyboard music
• Hand crossing technique and execution
• Pedal selection and restraint in pre-romantic repertoire
• Baroque phrasing and harmonic awareness
• Rapid scalar passage work with clarity and control
• Reading and interpreting historical performance notes