Russell Sherman has been hailed as "that rarest of performers - a thinking man's virtuoso" (Chicago Tribune), and Piano Pieces is his scintillating excursion into the world of piano and its multiple spheres of affect and influence. From pithy reflections on tone, technique, and the thorny matter of thumbs, to ruminations on how such a machine could be the voice and repository of priceless human messages both lyrical and complex, Piano Pieces examines the current status of music, piano playing, and pedagogy through the noisy filter of contemporary culture. How are the materials of piano music transferred to a younger generation raised in an environment so antagonistic to ideals, concentration, and aesthetic judgment? How are children encouraged to join lifelong crusades in behalf of beauty, compassion, and responsibility? How does a page of Mozart translate into a vision of kindness and courage?