Skills in Scales, Book 1: Piano Book

Steiner's systematic approach to scales and triads removes guesswork from technique building. Students progress through parallel major and minor scales with their corresponding triads in both broken and blocked forms, creating muscle memory that transfers immediately to repertoire. This methodical foundation has proven durable enough that teachers continue recommending it decades after publication.

Purposeful and orderly. Each exercise builds logically on the previous one, with patterns that become satisfying to execute once the hand settles into them. The progression from blocked to broken forms creates a sense of growing fluency and confidence.

Beginning and early intermediate piano students building foundational technique through systematic scale and arpeggio work. Teachers who want a clear, structured path to major scales, relative minors, and triad patterns without fluff or excessive ornamentation.

• Begin with blocked triads in each hand separately before combining them, ensuring even tone and secure hand position.
• Practice the broken triads at a tempo where each note speaks clearly; speed follows only after the pattern is internalized.
• Use consistent fingering across all keys in the same scale to build automaticity that reduces hesitation during sight-reading.
• Explore different dynamic levels and articulations (staccato, legato) once the basic patterns are secure, reinforcing control.

Assign this book as supplementary technique work during the first year of study, working through it alongside beginner repertoire to reinforce what students encounter in pieces. The systematic coverage of all major keys and their relative minors prepares students for transposition and modulation they will encounter later.

• Playing all 12 major scales and their relative minor scales in one octave
• Building triads on each scale degree in both blocked and broken forms
• Developing hand position and finger independence across all keys
• Recognizing parallel major and minor relationships
• Establishing consistent fingering patterns for later transposition and sight-reading