Premier Piano Course, Technique 2B: Piano Book

The Technique 2B book advances students with carefully sequenced technical concepts (hand crossings, finger stretches, legato pedal work) that appear nowhere else at this level in such organized, cumulative form. Each page aligns directly with its corresponding Lesson Book page, eliminating the guesswork of when to introduce technique separately and allowing teachers to integrate skill-building seamlessly into weekly lessons. The inclusion of Artistic Etudes and Masterwork etudes means students immediately apply new techniques in musical contexts rather than drilling isolated exercises.

The book offers a sense of purposeful building; students encounter new technical tools one at a time, practice them in controlled etude settings, and then celebrate them through expressive pieces. Moving through hand crossings and finger stretches feels like unlocking new possibilities at the keyboard, with Masterwork etudes providing glimpses into standard repertoire they can aspire to play.

Technique 2B serves students progressing through level 2B of the Premier Piano Course who need focused, structured work on intermediate hand coordination and pedal control. It works equally well for students in private lessons and group piano classes, since each exercise reinforces the same skills their Lesson Book introduces.

• Introduce the three-note slurs by having the student listen for the gentle peak on the middle note, then shape the phrase as if it's a tiny crescendo-decrescendo rather than an accent mark.
• When working through hand crossing passages, isolate the preparation step first and practice the crossing motion slowly without worrying about tempo or fluidity; confidence builds once the crossing itself becomes automatic.
• Use the Artistic Etudes as performance pieces for studio recitals once the technique is solid; they bridge the gap between technical work and real repertoire in a way that shows tangible musical progress.
• For legato pedal work, have students listen closely to the moment the foot engages the pedal and experiment with releasing it slightly before the next note to avoid muddiness; this kinesthetic awareness matters more than reading about it.

Assign the Technique 2B page that corresponds with each week's Lesson Book assignment, typically 1-2 pages per lesson. The Artistic Etudes work well as weekly performance assignments in studio recitals or group lesson showcases once the technique is secure, building confidence and giving students concrete goals for their technical work.

• Three-note slurs with proper shaping and weight transfer
• Rapid hand positioning and crossing coordination
• Recognizing and conducting downbeats within phrases
• Extended finger stretches across 5-note and wider intervals
• Legato pedal technique with clean note transitions
• Passing thumb under finger 3 and finger 3 over thumb with fluidity
• Hands-together independence and rhythmic coordination
• Reading and interpreting standard masterwork etude passages