The Studien über die Etüden von F. Chopin have manifold purposes. Their aim is to develop the mechanical, technical and musical possibilities of piano playing, to expand the peculiarly adapted nature of the instrument to polyphonic, polyrhythmic and polydynamic work and to widen the range of its possibilities in tone coloring. The unusual mental and physical demands must invariably lead to a much higher proficiency in the command of the instrument, while the composer for the piano will find a number of suggestions regarding the treatment of the instrument. Special attention must be drawn to the fact, that owing to innumerable contrapuntal devices, which frequently compass almost the whole range of the keyboard, the fingering and pedaling are often of a revolutionary character. The Studien are to be considered in an equal degree suitable for concert purposes and private study. As the Chopin studies are, as compositions in étude form, universally acknowledged to be the highest attainment in the realm of beautiful piano music combined with indispensable mechanical and technical usefulness, the author thought it wisest to build upon their solid and invulnerable foundation, for the purpose of furthering the art of piano playing.
