Übung

Übung means "exercise" or "practice" in German

Übung refers to musical exercises that composers write to help students develop technique and skills. Bach's set of keyboard "Clavier-Übung" were designed to help harpsichord players practice and improve their abilities. His Clavier-Übung III contained organ exercises and pieces meant to develop skills needed for church music and liturgical performance. These Übungen, or exercises, gave players the chance to practice performance aspects such as articulation, dexterity, dynamics and ornamentation.

By composing Übungen with increasing complexity, Bach helped harpsichordists and organists refine their technique via practice and repetition. The structured sequences of musical exercises in Clavier-Übung III contributed to the development of German keyboard tradition and Lutheran church music in particular.