Carl Czerny (1791-1857) was an Austrian pianist, teacher, and composer who studied with Beethoven and taught Franz Liszt. Although he was a capable and prolific composer, he is best remembered for his piano studies, a series of exacting graded exercises that remain in wide use. The father of modern piano technique, Czerny advised developing technique independently from music, and his exercises are devised to render all fingers equally strong and well trained. -the publisher