Music and Time Annotation << Back The Methodological Role of Piano Cycles in the Training of Pianists on the Example of the Work of Azerbaijani Composers A.S. Yusifova The article is devoted to the features of the piano cycles study on the example of Azerbaijani composers’ works. The author notes that this genre is one of the most widespread and actively updated in the Azerbaijani composers’ creativity. It also occupies a leading position in the pedagogical repertoire of pianists at various levels of study, from elementary to advanced. A.S. Yusifova believes, that piano cycles have a polygenre specificity, since two contrasting genres – miniature and a cycle, integrate an, the same time, maintain their inherent features. The characteristic polygenre of the piano cycles also presupposes special approaches to their study. Exactly, relying on the contrast principle – stylistic contrast, figurative-intonational contrast, modo-tonal contrast, rhythmic contrast, dynamic contrast, texture contrast, etc., – pianists need to simultaneously realize the dramatic unity of the entire cycle, and represent it as a single musical and artistic canvas. This methodological approach contributes to the effective development of the pianist's performing skills, to the expressive and holistic musical expression ability, both in small and large musical-temporal dimensions. Analyzing the piano cycles for children and youth, created by Azerbaijani composers, the author, using some of them as an example, reveals the artistic idea that unites the musical-descriptive content of the pieces into a one single cycle. Keywords: Training. Pianists. Genre. Piano cycle. Azerbaijani composers. Pp. 28-32.