Thank you John for bringing up Abby Whiteside! I checked out "Indispensables of Piano Playing" today. It's the 1961 version that does not include mastering the Chopin Etudes.

This is a very exciting read. It's passionately written and I can see how it would have been highly controversial especially when published. It's a good introduction to controversy in piano teaching and is relevant today IMO. I can also see how some current method books are now incorporating some of the ideas she discusses.

It also has me reflecting on how I've been influenced by extensive yoga practice. And it has me recalling a Feldenkrais class.

She promotes a holistic approach (as opposed to finger focused approach) to piano playing and has this to say about being actively seated at the piano:
"'Sit in the driver's seat and hold the reins' is good imagery for the fulcrum activity...But it does not mean a stodgy sitting--rather an alive, active part of the whole performance."

It took me a few chapters to see that she means the upper arm when she refers to the "top arm". Other than that I find it well organized, and not deserving of the severe criticism about lack of editing (that I had read in Amazon reviews).

That makes me feel so much better about the drudgery of cleaning my studio at week's end! Actually, I'm glad you found it useful. Rereading it this past week, I find many ideas that just blew over my head the first time through.