Frederic Chopin and the Art of the Piano

A unique book about the art of the piano, with Frederic Chopin and his landmark series of 'Etudes' at its heart. Kogosowski gives a complete explanation of how the piano is REALLY played, in a clear exposition rarely ever accomplished on behalf of pianists, let alone the general reader. The subject is not approached from a narrow academic point of view, but from the wider physiological angle, explaining in detail how the hands actually work. This information is of vital importance because of the prevalence of RSI and Carpal Tunnel problems among pianists, as well as an ever-growing number of people because of the constant use of computers.

This hugely important subject is addressed in the context of the history and world of piano performing (Everything you ever wanted to know about virtuoso piano playing but didn't know what to ask.) The book is also a new 'take' on the life of Frederic Chopin. Instead of detailing the chronological facts of his life, the reader is taken on a journey, one in which he travels in Chopin's shoes, seeing the world through his eyes – not just emotionally, socially and politically, but how the history of music and the whole culture of Europe appeared to him. It is a biography told 'from the inside out', so to speak – starting with the music and how it is played, and explaining everything through that (and is not that the real way to tell the life of an artist?).

With a wealth of lively anecdote as well as essential practical information, 'Genius of the Piano' is a book one can dip into at any point (or just read the helpfully detailed index for fun). Each of the twelve chapters is self- contained, covering a different area of music and culture, including the development of the piano, opera, virtuoso instrumentalists, the symphony orchestra, 19th century French literature and painting, the philosophy of Romanticism, the history of piano pedagogy, etc. The unifying human thread is Frederic Chopin, and the practical one his 'Etudes'.

Above all, 'Genius of the Piano' presents the clearest and most comprehensive account yet of the physiology of the hand as it applies in playing the piano, and the avoidance of strain in playing.