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(Maybe posting a question a week is not a bad idea! )

I have one: Do you have any thoughts on Whiteside's idea of "outlining" as illustrated at the 2:50 mark here:
Outlining illustrated at 2:50

We often use "outlining" as a memorization technique. Quite effective, actually. However, here she uses outlining as a guide to moving the torso, so that you feel the rhythm and your body is in the correct place at the correct moment for playing that rapid/difficult passage.

In her first book, she tells of using outlining to teach the Bach C minor prelude (BWV 927) to a complete beginner (adult) successfully, and up to tempo!

That may explain why he chose the C minor in particular in his example. Thank you.

I was seeing it as a good way of getting the general flow of a piece or section by being able to sketch out the general movement, and then filling in the notes afterward. It seems to have multiple uses then.

No............puzzled............the beginner is an adult, not a minor at all.

cc chang believes he has done so.

While I sense some disagreement here, I think you could make the case that he has tried.

I'm totally confused. The only "minor" mentioned by anyone was the name of a piece, which is in the key of C minor - not the student! John talked about Abby Whiteside using the concept of outlining to teach Bach's C minor Prelude to an adult beginner. I referred to the clips by teacher James Boyk, who is introducing the concept to a class of advanced students. In another clip he is working with a student on Debussy's L'Isle Joyeuse, and then mentions outlining to her. In illustrating the idea, he plays a bit of the C minor Prelude. That is what I was referring to.

What beginner are you talking about?

You can find it at Hal Leonard Books for $19.95. See here.

Thanks for finding this John. That's a reasonable price.

What a surprise! I looked at our local library online and I see that Abby Whiteside's book is available. Can't believe it! I'll plan to get over there soon and check it out. Yea!

what a surprise.. Bach: Bach C minor prelude (BWV 927) and Mastering the Chopin Etudes.. I am already in love with her.

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.