Edna Mae Burnam was an American music educator and composer.

The Burnam Piano Technique (A DOZEN A DAY) consists of a total of six volumes, including the "Mini Book" and "Preparatory Book".

It is a textbook suitable for young children and beginners.

As stated in the book's preface, "The purpose of this book is to develop strong hands and flexible fingers," it is a textbook specialized in finger exercises.

Most pieces are in C major, lack melodic content, and primarily focus on fingering. A key feature is the ability to practice scales and chromatic scales within short pieces.

The stick figure illustrations (drawn by Burnam herself) are also popular in Japan.

Key Teaching Points:

• In addition to playing exactly as written, it is crucial to clearly identify which technique each exercise aims to develop during lessons.
• Students can practice differentiating sound expressions for staccato, such as sharp or light sounds, by imagining them from the titles.
• It is important to use imagination based on the illustrations and piece titles to consider the desired touch, wrist usage, and relaxation.

The latter half of the book also covers arpeggios and ornaments, allowing students to acquire techniques useful for playing various pieces later on. It can also be used for focused practice concurrently with other pieces.

It is recommended to use this book in conjunction with other texts.