From the basics of music notation, the correct playing position and simple pieces covering a fifth, to mastery of the complete octave and a refined playing technique: This book covers everything the beginning pianist should know. To prevent piano playing from ever becoming boring, it covers a wide range of musical styles from Classical music to Jazz. Other topics include music theory and the acoustic basics of piano tone, thus laying a solid foundation for future studies in piano playing. The included CD makes practicing easy and fun!

A The basic concepts

1. Notation
2. The proper hand posture
3. The proper sitting position at the piano

B Playing the piano in the five finger range

1. Old farmer's song
2. Improvising with what we've learned
3. Striking exercises
4. Piece for Simon's hands
5. A waltz - 3/4 time
6. Combining, composing and improvising in the 5-tone range

C The tone range is growing: from small c to c''

8. Fifth accompaniment - striking exercise
9. Little Dance
10. Two pieces in the new tone range
11. Old tune
12. Medieval dance
13. The major and minor scale
14. The trick with the thumb: Playing the scale
15. Scale joke
16. The Jazz way: The Blues scale

D Refined stroke

17. Staccato (short) and legato (slurred)
18. Hopping fingers
19. Kanon all'legato
20. In thought - Pick-up measure in portato
21. Tango - Portato piece
22. Leggiero piece for the right hand
23. Classical waltz all' leggiero
24. Sustain - The pedals
25. And now: Jazz! The walking bass

E Playing with intervals and chords

26. The biggest secret in nature - the vibrating string
27. The intervals and their inversions
28. The chords and their inversions
29. Checking out classical music

F Reading

Your piano
About learning - what exactly is that?
About the fun of practicing
Overview - brief music theory
Notes and keyboard of the piano
CD tracklist