Steve Russell has worked for thirty years to provide pianists and keyboardists with a pathway to virtuosity free from pain and injury. His endeavours are now brought together in Calm Hands. Whether a beginner, an advanced player seeking technical improvement, or one suffering from repetitive strain injury, Calm Hands can help to develop a safe and efficient technique.

In Part I, Steve explores the physiology of the arms and hands to explain how they function most efficiently and powerfully at the piano keyboard. A set of simple exercises are provided to convert this understanding into elegant and effortless playing habits. These habits are vital to accurate rhythm and agility of dynamics and articulation, but more importantly they can protect pianists from repetitive strain and carpal tunnel injuries.

Part II is a comprehensive series of exercises designed to help improvising keyboardists habituate efficient fingering strategies. As you become more familiar with negotiating apparently complex combinations of black and white keys, you will begin to absorb the underlying principles of efficient fingering that enable smooth and powerful legato execution without strain.

Praise for Calm Hands

“Congratulations on writing the book [Calm Hands] which brings fresh perspectives to today’s piano technique.”– Mike Nock ONZM

“I am delighted to recommend to pianists, Calm Hands by Steve Russell. This well researched and highly comprehensive volume is the real deal.”– Dr. Judy Bailey OAM

Wagtail Books is very proud to release this collection of songs from the album Mandarin Skyline by the inimitable Leigh Carriage. These beautiful songs are transcribed exactly as Leigh sings them, set to rich but simple piano accompaniments.

In a world where the popular song is adhering ever closer to a formula of repetitive harmonies, predictable structures and banal lyrics, it is extremely gratifying to discover Leigh's beautiful art-songs. She layers memorable melodies over rich harmonic movements, stretching the norms of structure to brilliantly support the profundity of the lyrics, yet all the while the songs remain deeply engaging. In these pages performers will find wonderful new repertoire with simple but beautiful piano accompaniments, students of songwriting will find endless inspiration and edification, and music lovers will find beautiful music to play.