Lowell Liebermann’s Album for the Young, Op. 43 is his only venture into the realm of pedagogical composition to date. Written in 1993 and published in 1995, it is a collection of eighteen small pieces for young pianists, progressing in difficulty from elementary (National Music Certificate Program (NMCP) Level 1) through late-intermediate (NMCP Level 8) levels. It contains both traditional and more recent compositional devises as well as numerous technical challenges, such as cross-rhythms, layered textures, and hand crossings. The pieces are intelligent and appealing, and can be a valuable tool for introducing or reinforcing a variety of theoretical and performance related concepts.
Despite the numerous pedagogical merits of this work, it has unfortunately been overlooked by the body of theoretical, pedagogical, and performance related research available. It is in response to this apparent neglect, and due to its high quality and appeal, that this document offers a pedagogical guide to Lowell Liebermann’s Album for the Young, aimed at promoting, informing, inspiring, and assisting piano teachers in presenting its numerous theoretical and pedagogical aspects.
The paper is divided into six chapters. Chapter One contains introductory comments as well as rationale for why the document has been written. Chapter Two contains biographical information on Liebermann, as well a discussion of his compositional style. Chapter Three contains background information on the Album for the Young, as well as general descriptions and grading of each piece in the set. Chapter Four offers numerous technical and interpretive suggestions for a variety difficulties encountered in each piece. Chapter Five offers a discussion of the most notable compositional features at work in each piece. Chapter Six contains concluding remarks as well as recommendations for further research.