Editors' Choice
Basic Library
This comprehensive anthology offers intermediate to early advanced works by 37 composers. It features an up-to-date, comprehensive survey of piano music written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; works in their original form with clearly identified editorial markings; a spaciously engraved score for easy reading; and a useful, extensive foreword containing historical information and performance notes. The accompanying DVD covers music from approximately 1890 to 1914. Dr. Hinson presents a fascinating lecture on the dramatic changes that composers wrought during the early 20th century. Music by Bartok, Debussy, Joplin, Grainger, Hindemith, MacDowell, Coleridge-Taylor, Satie, Schoenberg and more are performed in context of the performance challenges and stylistic explorations of the period. Approximately one hour. Full color.

This anthology features late intermediate to early advanced works by 42 composers of the Baroque era (1590-1750). Included are works in their original form with clearly identified editorial markings; a spaciously engraved score for easy reading; a useful, extensive foreword containing historical information and performance notes; and suggested realizations of ornaments. The companion DVD features one of America's most respected authorities on piano literature, Dr. Maurice Hinson and combines two videos: Performance Practices in Baroque Keyboard Music and Baroque Dance and Baroque Keyboard Music. The DVD is approximately 107 minutes in length.

This anthology features intermediate to early advanced works by 27 composers of the Classical era (1750-1820). Included are works in their original form with clearly identified editorial markings; a spaciously engraved score for easy reading; a useful, extensive foreword containing historical information and performance notes; and suggested realizations of ornaments. The companion DVD, Performance Practices in Classical Piano Music, includes an informative video-lecture by music historian Dr. Maurice Hinson. Dr. Hinson uses compositions by Beethoven, Clementi, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert to explore the performance practices of piano music in the Classical period. Approx. one hour. Full color.

This anthology features intermediate to early advanced works by 20 composers of the Impressionistic era. Featured in this anthology is an up-to-date, comprehensive survey of piano music written in the Impressionistic period; works in their original form with clearly identified editorial markings; a spaciously engraved score for easy reading; and a useful, extensive foreword containing historical information and performance notes. The companion DVD, Performance Practices in Impressionistic Piano Music, offers an attractive video-lecture for piano teachers and performers. Dr. Maurice Hinson explores the intriguing composers, pianistic techniques, musical characteristics and repertoire from this appealing genre. The DVD is organized in four convenient parts for ease of repeated viewing and cueing. Approximately 66 minutes.

This comprehensive anthology includes intermediate to early advanced solo piano works by 36 composers. It features an up-to-date, comprehensive survey of piano music written between 1820 and 1910; works in their original form with clearly identified editorial markings; a spaciously engraved score for easy reading; and a useful, extensive foreword containing historical information and performance notes. The companion DVD, Performance Practices in Romantic Piano Music, presents musicologist Dr. Maurice Hinson in an engaging lecture on achieving a more historically informed performance of Romantic keyboard music. Dr. Hinson explores specifically how Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn and Schumann were influenced by their literary and artistic contemporaries. Performance practices are discussed and characteristic musical selections are beautifully performed in this highly informative presentation. Full-color and one hour in length.

These three comprehensive instruction books from Alfred and the National Keyboard Workshop reveal the secrets of blues keyboard. Students at the intermediate level or above can learn to play and improvise in the blues style with this fun and easy-to-use method. Great as a supplement to traditional piano lessons, or as a primary method for the serious blues student, the "Beginning" book allows the student to dig right in and begin learning blues right away with basic chords and scales, blues melodies, improvisation, turnarounds, intros, twelve-bar blues form, and walking bass. The "Intermediate" book starts with a review and explores chord extensions, blues techniques, building bass lines, playing in the key, ii-V substitutions, slow blues, twelve and eight-bar blues. The "Mastering" book also begins with a review and covers techniques such as tremolos, octaves, grace notes, two-handed chords and various styles such as Chicago blues, New Orleans R&B, jazz blues and more. A CD demonstrating examples and for playing along is available for each book.

This series from Alfred and the National Keyboard workshop reveals all the secrets to playing jazz keyboard. It provides a fun way for the player with intermediate-level or above note-reading and keyboard experience to gain valuable playing and improvisational skills. The "Beginning" book spans the major scale and basic triad theory all the way through 7th chords, pentatonic scales and modulating chord progressions and features a full etude or tune demonstrating every new concept. The "Intermediate" book includes a review of book one, a continuation of modes, chord extensions, making the changes, using chromatic tones and guide tones, chord substitution, "rhythm changes," the blues, altered dominant chords and more. The "Mastering" book starts with a review and quickly moves on to the more advanced concepts of chord voicings, modal soloing, substitution, reharmonization, modes of the minor scales, diminished and whole tone scales, walking bass, stride piano technique, non-diatonic progressions and much more. The optional CD demonstrates examples and gives the student an opportunity to play along. The optional "Beginning" DVD runs 45 minutes and offers comprehensive instruction so any keyboardist with basic keyboard skills can dig right in and begin learning jazz right away.

This DVD presents an informative and organized approach to rhythm, improvisation and blues. Exercises and demonstrations enhance the learning experience. Includes: playing in time, sight-reading rhythms, basic rhythms and their permutations, rushing and dragging, an innovative approach to the basics of improvisation, the blues and basic blues forms. Intermediate level. 56 minutes.