Yonit Lea Kosovske surveys early music and writing about keyboard performance with the aim of facilitating the development of an expressive tone in the modern player. Reviewing the work of the pedagogues and performers of the late Renaissance through the late Baroque, she gives special emphasis to la douceur du toucher or a gentle touch. Other topics addressed include posture, early pedagogy, exercises, articulation, and fingering patterns. Illustrated with musical examples as well as photos of the author at the keyboard, Historical Harpsichord Technique can be used for individual or group lessons and for amateurs and professionals.

Provides basic information on the harpsichord, best-known instrument of baroque music, including physical properties, kinds of harpsichords available, instruction on tuning and common maintenance problems, explanations of technique and fingering, tempo, registration, ensemble playing, and special notational problems.

"Divided into two parts, the book combines Touch at the harpsichord, in part one, with Rhetoric at the keyboard (or, performance practice) in part two. The book is spiral bound and designed for use at the keyboard, with or without a teacher. It features 30 teaching pieces from the Bach/Ricci "Methode ou Receuil de Connaissances elementaires pour le piano forte ou clavecin" of 1786. Also featured are pieces to play by Louis & Francois Couperin, J. S. Bach and Georg Bohm. An appendix of recommended starting pieces follows. If you take the trouble to work with this book at a harpsichord, (especially if you use the recordings) your touch and knowledge of Baroque performance will improve."--Publisher's description.

This book gives a practical method for playing the harpsichord in a way that was lost when the instrument was marginalized by the piano in the 19th century. Since a thorough knowledge of historical performance practice is such an important aspect of playing this repertoire, excerpts from relevant primary sources are given at the end of many of the lessons.

Written by Joan Benson, one of the champions of clavichord performance in the 20th century, Clavichord for Beginners is an exceptional method book for both practitioners and enthusiasts. In addition to detailing the historical origins of the instrument and the evolution of keyboard technique, the book describes the proper method for practicing fingering and articulation and emphasizes the importance of touch and sensitivity at the keyboard.

Describes and demonstrates the places of balance, standing and sitting in balance, structure, movement of the hands and arms, and other topics.

(Schott). Based on 16th to 18th-century sources. This edition is part of the ABRSM syllabus (grade 5).