The building blocks contained in this book will enable you to fulfill this promise.  You have the freedom to arrange these blocks as you choose to support what you want to accomplish with your students.  Take into account their age and program of study, and know that other activities can be undertaken later.  This book can be a valuable reference throughout music study.   You are urged to begin with rhythm—the most essential element for building a lasting and joyous involvement in music.  As you study this book, you will see that the pitch and technic sections use rhythm to organize and clarify students’ thoughts and actions.

The materials in this book have been used successfully since 1970 by students from age five through adulthood. They form the threshold for the beautiful music and broad musicianship principles of Artistry at the Piano, and beyond to a lifetime of enjoying the music of the masters.

The presentations in this book are divided into three essential components of the musical language: Rhythm, Pitch, and Technic. This allows students to focus on each area separately at first in order to gain a firm, confident foundation and broader understanding before integrating the areas of study. You will find that students can thus take possession of the information and skills and be autonomous in their applications. When students are ready to integrate rhythm, pitch, and technic, they are in control of all three components. This avoids future reading and study problems, especially in the areas of rhythm and expressive performance—for they have learned how to learn and how to listen.

Students thus become good musical detectives!  They can now go to the piano with the confidence that comes from playing musically and accurately the first try.  The activities and many Study Plans throughout the book allow the teacher to show the rewards of “look before you leap” at each lesson or class, so students’ home study can take on the positive and productive approach that propels them through later study.  In test teaching, students who begin in the Introduction to Music not only progress more quickly but also play more musically than students who begin in more traditional ways.

This book holds Part One and Part Two of the Introduction to Music. The Table of Contents will show you how these two Parts are organized. The text in Parts One and Two is directed to the student and contains only the most basic information.

You will find Part Three, which is the key to success, on the Internet at www.greywolf-artistry.com . Click on Artistry Alliance to find a broad selection of study aids including several sets of flash cards, additional student activities in rhythm, pitch, technic, and movement, plus a wide range of support for parents, teachers, and pedagogy classes. The sections on pedagogy provide insights into guiding students to the most enjoyable and productive approaches to music study. Please take advantage of this innovative solution to providing you with study aids and a helping hand.

The Introduction to Music has been used successfully as: