Category: Repertoire

"Easy Perfect Patterns" now in hardcopy and on sale!

10/9/2018

I am excited to share that my "Easy Perfect Patterns" collection is now available in hardcopy--and on sale for just $7!

This book is for late elementary pianists and contains 12 pieces in a variety of styles. These pattern-based pieces can be learned quickly and have the potential to be taught by rote, reading, or a combination of the two. Backing tracks are also available for this collection!

Click HERE to see sample pages, listen to the collection, or to purchase!

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Backing Track 101: Part Three

9/30/2018

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Click HERE to read "Backing Track 101: Part One" on the benefits of using backing tracks and the technology you will need to get started.

Click HERE to read "Backing Track 101: Part Two" on where you can purchase backing tracks and some tips on how to integrate them into your lessons.

In today's post, I will be sharing a few of my own backing tracks! Since my students have been having so much fun using backing tracks in our lessons, I recently started the process of creating mp3 backing tracks to go along with my own publications. So far, I have backing tracks available for two of my collections, with more on the way:

First up is my "Easy Perfect Patterns" collection of pattern-based pieces at the mid- to late elementary level. These pieces are great for students who struggle with note reading; they can be taught through a combination of rote and reading, and they sound more difficult than they are.

The backing tracks are great for helping these easy pieces sound "big"--and as a bonus, they encourage students that might need to work on their reading fluency to keep playing without pausing!

Here are a few of my favorite tracks from this collection. These recordings feature both the backing track and the piano part for reference; if you purchase the tracks you will get both this version and the backing track without the piano part.

Next up is the first book from my popular "Rock On!" series. I was especially excited to create backing tracks for this series, because I really want the students playing these pieces to feel like rock stars. These pieces are at the late elementary to early intermediate level.

These tracks will be great for helping students to solidify their rhythm, and they will give students a taste of what it is like to play in a real band. I think these would be especially fun for recitals!

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection:

Click on the cover photos above to listen to all of the backing tracks in each collection, to see sample pages from the books, or to purchase!

What do you think? What are your favorite backing tracks to use with your students, and how do you use them? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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New Website Feature: Search My Catalog!

8/5/2018

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I am excited to share a new search feature on my website that I hope will be very helpful for teachers and students! Visitors to my website can now search my entire catalog of over 200 piano solos and duets by choosing from a variety of search criteria.

Use one or more of the filters to find exactly what you are looking for:

Looking for music that tells a story, or a piece that is pattern based? Use the "My student is motivated by..." filter. (Hover over the name of each category to read more about it.)
Looking for a piece at a specific level? Search by level, from elementary through advanced.
Looking for a piece for a specific holiday, like Halloween or Christmas? Or a specific style, such as jazz or rock? Search by genre.

Once you have selected your filters, your results will appear:

You can listen to the full recording of each piece returned in your search. If you like what you hear, click on the "Buy" button to be taken to where you can buy the sheet music online.

You can also type search terms or specific titles into the search bar (located on the right above the results table) to find what you are looking for quickly.

Click HERE or on the pictures above to be taken to my catalog search page. Let me know what you think!

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"Easy Perfect Patterns" now in hardcopy and on sale!

Backing Track 101: Part Three

New Website Feature: Search My Catalog!

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