Carl Czerny (1791–1857) was an Austrian pianist, teacher, and composer who studied with Beethoven and taught Franz Liszt. He is best remembered for his piano studies, a series of exacting graded exercises that remain in wide use two centuries after their initial publication.
Former Dover editor David Dutkanicz holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Columbia University. He is the arranger and author of more than a dozen Dover collections of classical, jazz, blues, ragtime, and other piano books, including the Big Book of Beginner's Piano Classics.