As there are several hundred piano studies by Czerny, it might become confusing to attempt to pick out the most effective exercises. To overcome this problem, Heinrich Germer, the original editor, chose those he thought were best. Willard A. Palmer has made several changes to metronome markings, fingerings and pedal indications where he felt certain passages needed clarification.

As there are several hundred piano studies by Czerny, it might become confusing to attempt to pick out the most effective exercises. To overcome this problem, Heinrich Germer, the original editor, chose those he thought were best. Willard A. Palmer has made several changes to metronome markings, fingerings and pedal indications where he felt certain passages needed clarification.

Op. 139 begins with an easy level of pieces and gradually increases to a moderately difficult level. Some of the technical devices in these pieces include: right-hand melody with left-hand accompaniment; diatonic and chromatic scalar and arpeggio figurations; syncopated melodies and trills. Many of the studies can be transposed into other keys and practiced at varied tempos.

Carl Czerny (1791 – 1857) was an Austrian composer whose books of studies are still widely used in piano teaching.

The New International Edition of Suzuki Piano School, Volume 1 includes French, German and Spanish translations as well as a newly recorded CD performed by internationally renowned recording artist Seizo Azuma. Now the book and CD can be purchased together or separately. While the music selections in Volume 1 remain the same as the earlier edition, the spacious new engraving with minimal editing generally keeps only one piece per page. Instruction material in many pieces from Volume 1 has been removed in lieu of right-hand studies at the top of the page and left-hand studies at the bottom. Tempo markings are now included on many pieces. Titles: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" Variations (Shinichi Suzuki) * Lightly Row (German Folk Song) * The Honeybee (Bohemian Folk Song) * Cuckoo (German Folk Song) * Lightly Row (German Folk Song) * French Children's Song (French Folk Song) * London Bridge (English Folk Song) * Mary Had a Little Lamb (American Nursery Song) * Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Folk Song) * Au Clair de la Lune (J. B. Lully) * Long, Long Ago (T. H. Bayly) * Little Playmates (F. X. Chwatal) * Chant Arabe (Anonymous) * Allegretto 1 (C. Czerny) * Goodbye to Winter (Folk Song) * Allegretto 2 (C. Czerny) * Christmas-Day Secrets (T. Dutton) * Allegro (S. Suzuki) * Musette (Anonymous). The International editions include an updated title page that designates the book as the International Edition.