Technique 6 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A--5. Four new Technique Tools clearly present technical goals through appealing and descriptive exercises. Artistic Etudes showcase a student's technique in an expressive musical setting and Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson book.
Technique Tools: Slur Gestures * Voicing the Melody * The Soft Pedal---Una Corda * Trills.
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Dennis Alexander has shaped piano pedagogy for decades through his prolific output of educational compositions. His partnership with Alfred Music Publishing, which began in 1986, has resulted in over 400 publications and recordings that have established him as a leading voice in accessible yet artistically rigorous piano writing for students across all levels.
A former piano pedagogy faculty member at the University of Montana for 24 years, Alexander brought his deep teaching experience into his compositions. His career has extended far beyond the classroom: he made his Carnegie Recital Hall debut in 1987, maintains an active performance schedule as soloist and collaborative musician, and has served as a clinician and competition adjudicator internationally. Based in Albuquerque, he continues to compose and tour regularly for Alfred Music Publishing.
Why we love this
This sixth-level technique book strikes the balance that intermediate teachers crave: the four Technique Tools isolate real performance challenges (slurs, voicing, the una corda pedal, trills) without overwhelming students with abstract exercises. The artistic etudes and masterwork etudes structure mean students immediately hear how technical work serves actual music they'll encounter, which strengthens both motivation and retention.
What to expect
Working through this book feels like discovering the mechanics behind beautiful playing. The exercises build confidence through clear pedagogical structure, while the etudes reward that technical work with genuine musical moments that sound accomplished rather than remedial.
Who it's for
Intermediate piano students progressing through Level 6 of the Premier Piano Course who need structured, musically engaging technique work. Teachers using the full Premier Piano Course series will find this book essential for developing the technical foundation required at this level.
How to get the most out of it
Reference the correlated Lesson book page while working through each Technique Tool to see how the concept functions within a complete musical context.
Approach the Artistic Etudes as performance pieces, not just technical studies. The expressive writing reveals how much technique contributes to musical communication.
Take the Masterwork Etudes slowly enough that students can observe the technical demands before attempting performance tempo. This shifts focus from struggle to understanding.
Record student performances of the etudes throughout the book to track growth in both technical control and artistic maturity.
How to use it
Assign one Technique Tool per week alongside the corresponding Lesson book material, allowing students to build technique in direct service to the pieces they're learning. The Masterwork Etudes provide natural stepping stones toward standard repertoire students will encounter in later levels.
Skills your students will build
Executing slur gestures with appropriate weight and phrasing
Voicing melody lines above accompaniment
Using the soft pedal (una corda) expressively and musically
Executing trills with control and evenness
Reading and interpreting etude-level notation
Translating technical concepts into expressive musical choices
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