Technic Tricks, Book 2: Piano Book

Book 2 fills a real void in grade-one piano instruction by offering genuine technical studies written entirely in five-finger position. Schaum drew from proven pedagogical sources (Czerny, Gurlitt, and others) and redistributed the technical demands equally between both hands, so neither gets neglected. Students experience tangible progress in hand position, finger independence, and evenness without the frustration of jumping to position shifts or hand movements they're not ready for.

These etudes feel straightforward and encouraging. The five-finger limitation removes barriers to success, letting students focus entirely on how their hands feel and sound. Each study builds on familiar finger patterns while introducing small technical challenges that resolve cleanly, creating a sense of accomplishment that motivates continued practice.

Book 2 serves students in their first year of study who have mastered basic note reading and hand position but need structured exercises to develop finger strength and independence. Teachers using the Schaum Method for primary instruction will return to this book repeatedly as supplemental work, and it works equally well for students transitioning from preparatory materials into formal method books.

• Focus on consistent hand height and rounded fingers throughout each study. The five-finger position constrains physical movement, so quality of touch and posture become the primary technical goals.
• Transpose exercises to multiple keys once the original key feels secure. Schaum designed these pieces specifically to welcome transposition, which deepens understanding of intervals and strengthens left-hand initiative.
• Play slowly enough to hear each finger strike the key independently. Early etudes reward deliberate practice that reveals which fingers rush or drag.
• Balance dynamics between hands so a single melodic line (whether it lives in the right or left hand) projects clearly. This trains ensemble awareness in a solo context.

Assign studies from Book 2 as weekly technical assignments that run parallel to method book lessons. The compact format (24 pages) invites focused, consistent work without overwhelming early students. Teachers can also use individual studies as performance pieces for studio recitals, where their brevity and clear technical purpose make them ideal showcase moments for young pianists.

• Consistent hand position and rounded finger shape
• Independent finger action and finger strength
• Even tone production across all five fingers
• Transposition to keys beyond C major
• Balance between right and left hands
• Evenness and clarity in ascending and descending patterns