"Legato" is, for the piano, one of the three possible types of articulation, that is, ways of producing
sound from the instrument. In my opinion, it is the most challenging one. The reason behind
creating this book was the scarcity of music publications dedicated to the subject of legato playing
on the market. As a piano teacher myself, I spent a long time searching for a suitable book that
would enable me to thoroughly introduce students to this topic. Most textbooks treat this issue too
superficially, which I consider a mistake. Therefore, based on many years of my own experience and
observations, I developed my own manual.
When playing legato, special attention should be paid to proper wrist movement. They should be
relaxed, positioned appropriately high, and raised before starting each slur. If the wrists remain low
and stiff, and the student solidifies these incorrect habits, further learning becomes uncertain. It is
impossible to play with a beautiful, mature sound, have good keyboard control, and master the skill
of phrasing when the hand and wrist muscles remain tense.
A significant number of students require many appropriate exercises to master the correct playing
technique. This book serves as a guide to learning legato playing. It contains numerous well-structured
exercises that will help the student understand and master the proper technique.
All exercises are written in the simplest "Middle C Position," which further facilitates learning. The
student does not need to concentrate on reading unfamiliar notes, but can instead focus their
attention to proper hand guidance.
I hope that this book will be a valuable and engaging tool for music teachers and contribute to
better progress among students.