Ferdinand Beyer
Ferdinand Beyer
Ferdinand Beyer
FERDINAND BEYER
Elementary Method
for the Piano (Vorschule
Foreword
Im K lavierspiel ), Op.
101, by Ferdinand Beyer
(18031863), was published in 1860.Since that
time it has been used by
piano students throughout the world.When compared with piano
methods written in the 20th and 21st centuries,
it looks more like a technique book than a piano
method.This edition has been edited to be useful
for todays piano students either as a method (with
of teacher guidance) or as a supplementary book.
Fingerings have been updated.Some fingerings that are not needed have been taken
away.Additional helpful fingerings have been
added.Beyer does change fingers on repeated
notes and these fingerings have been retained.
ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Staff
Lines
Spaces
2
Ledger Lines
w w w
w
w
w
w w w
w
w
w
w
& w ww ww ww ww
w w w
Treble or G Clef
w w w
w
w
w
? w ww w w
w w w w w
Bass or F Clef
w w w w w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w w
w
w
w
& w4 w w w w w w w w
w w w
w w
& 4
w
Notes on the
Five Lines
Notes on the
Four Spaces
w
w
w
w
w
w
w w
w w
w
B
Intervals
Notes on the
w
& w
Five Lines
2nd
w w
Notes on the
Four Spaces
3rd
w w
w w
Notes Above
and Below
the Staff
4th
w
w w
1 2 3 2
Notes on the
Ledger Lines
Notes Above
and Below
the Staff
Notes on the
Ledger Lines
5th
w w w
w w w
w
E
w
6th
w w
w
D
7th
8th
(octave)
4 Triplets
R R
R R
r
.
R R
Kr
.
R R
. . . . . .
&
..
..
& J J
R
..
..
&
Measures
Brace
j
ww . . . .
&
J J R
Bar
Line
Bar
Line
Bar
Line
TIME SIGNATURES
c
4
4
2
4
3
4
3
8
4
common time (same as 4 )
Simple Time
&
Sharp
ACCIDENTALS
Flat
? # # # # #
#
D D
F F
G G
&
A A
b b
b
b b
Chromatic
C C
Natural
# #
#
# #
C
&
6
8
9
8
Compound Time
Triple Time
b b b
b b
B
G G
Enharmonic
&
b
b
# b # b b # #
C#
Db
M
I
D
D
L
E
D#
Eb
F#
Gb
E F b F E#
G#
Ab
A#
Bb
C#
Db
B Cb C B#
10
Raise each finger exactly at the moment the next finger touches the keys.
First practice slowly with the fingers moving equally and firmly, but not too strong.
Avoid tension in the hand and arm, which can produce an unpleasant sound.
Repeat each example as directed by the teacher.
4 w
1. & 4
2. & 4
3
3. & 4
44 w
&
4.
4 w
5. & 4
w
4
6. & 4
3
7. & 4
1
w
4
8. & 4
1
4 w
9. & 4
5
w
5
w
4
10. & 4
1
w
4
11. & 4
1
3
12. & 4
1
w
4
14. & 4
5
w
4
13. & 4
5
84
Beyer shows these block chords
without any explanation.
&
..
1
LH 3
5
2.
& 4
F
4
& 4
1
LH legato
&
.
.
&
P
& ..
&
F
&
13
&
1
3
5
Comodo
46.
1.
w
.. w
2.
..
97
Accent Sign
To accent a note means
to play the note louder
than those before or after.
Accent signs appear over or under a note.
& 38
J
F
3
& 8
3
59.
LH legato
&
13
&
&
>
&
19
26
&
&
>
>
&
Allegretto
&
99
Allegro moderato means moderately fast.
Dolce means sweetly.
Allegro moderato
61.
& 44
.
3
F dolce
? 4
4
5
LH legato
&
.
J
J .
.
J
.
J
.
J
J w
.
J
.
J
.
J
.
J
.
J
.
J
.
J
.
J
&
p
?
13
&
F
?
.
J
J .
.
J
100
In the original edition, Beyer did not use the term staccato on these pages.
He simply described the dot and what it means.
&
Staccato
Staccato means to play the notes
short and detached.
&
is played
&
R
is played
J
& 43
F
? 43
Allegro moderato
1
62.
J
1
&
J
?
5
J
&
?
9
&
J
13
J
1
8va
&
8va