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Capsule Reviews
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Apply to Join Our Review Board!
If you're interested in regularly reviewing new titles as part of our Review Board, please contact us at the store. (Members are chosen based on pedagogy background and area(s) of expertise.) Reviews must be of titles released within 90 days of submission, under 200 words, and contain all details, including publisher and stock number. Complimentary review copies of selected publications are available. Please visit the store if you'd like to find out more!
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There's too much new material each month for any one person to digest. That's why our Review Board, started by Dr. Betty Kluth (MTNA), looks at all the material each month and selects some promising titles to review here. A complete listing of all the new titles from Alfred, FJH, Kjos, Willis, and selected others can be found on the New Issues page in this area, but for a teacher's perspective on some of these new titles, read on!
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Essential Piano Repertoire
Kjos
Volumes: Prep through 10
Price including CD: $9.95 to $14.95
Also available: Fundamentals of Piano Theory, Scale Skills, Piano Repertoire: Baroque & Classical, Romantic & 20th Century, and Etudes
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As many piano teachers know, the Kjos Piano Library includes a set of 11 stages of books, edited and selected by Keith Snell, which is designed to develop students from the late elementary through the advanced levels. The series contains three repertoire books for each level: Baroque and Classical, Romantic and 20th Century, and Etudes. Kjos has now issued one supplemental book for each level called "Essential Piano Repertoire".
I have used the Keith Snell books for 10 years and have found them to be superior to many other graded collections. The "Essential Piano Repertoire" volumes are perfect for teachers in search of Classical music that is thoughtful to pedagody. Students are guaranteed to progress steadily and teachers need not worry about leaving any holes in their learning. The music is high in quality, the fingerings are excellent and sensitive to smaller hands, and the editing of the Baroque and early Classical periods is stylistically sound and musically helpful. --Anthony Fuoco
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Succeeding With the Masters
FJH
Baroque Era, Volumes 1 & 2
Classical Era, Volumes 1 & 2
Romantic Era Volumes 1&2
Price including CD: Volume 1, $9.95 Volume 2, $11.95
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Helen Marlais compiled and edited this new series. The composers represented for the Baroque Era are Bach, Handel and Scarlatti. The Classical composers are Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The Volume 1 is graded Late Elementary / Intermediate, Volume 2 covers Intermediate/ Early Advanced.
The series features clear, well-spaced manuscripts printed on high quality paper. The pieces are relatively short, usually one page long, so that students may progress through a series of learning experiences rather quickly. Volume 1, Classical, contains 27 short pieces. Each piece has historical and performance notes and a CD recording. Each composer is given an illustrated page-long biography. --Dr. Betty Kluth
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In Recital Throughout the Year
FJH
Volume 1, Books 1-6
Volume 2, Books 1-6
Price: $6.95 per book, including CD recording of all pieces.
Also available: Duets, Christmas series
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Helen Marlais is the editor of this series of varied graded pieces written or edited by Melody Bober, Timothy Brown, Christopher Goldston, Elizabeth Greenleaf, Mary Leaf, Edwin McLean, Kevin Olson, and Judith Strickland. Each book contains 8 pieces, including a Christmas song, something for autumn or Halloween, a patriotic piece, an edited classic, a duet, and original pieces of various character.
Students should find the books quite engaging and enjoyable. The pieces are quite accessible and the print format is clear and well spaced. This series offers true dollar value as each piece with its recording averages less than $1 in cost.
--Dr. Betty Kluth
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Schirmer Performance Editions
G.Schirmer (dist. Hal Leonard)
Price: $9.95 and up per volume, including complete CD
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This new edition of standard works offers numerous improvements over old editions. The manuscript is clear and very well spaced. The books are printed on ivory paper to enhance clarity without glare. Every ornament is printed out in small manuscript right above the ornament sign in the score. A helpful amount of fingering has been included. Every piece is recorded on the included CDs. Each volume contains Historical Notes and Performance Notes. Each Table of Contents includes the notated themes.
Schirmer Performance Editions are a fine new offering at a reasonable price: $9.95.
--Dr. Betty Kluth
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Theory Games Software Levels 1A-2
Alfred # 14432
CD-ROM for computer use.
Levels 3-4 also available
Price: $19.95
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This is a marvelous new offering of an enjoyable and effective way to learn and/or review theory basics. A cute frog, turtle, ladybugs and fish guide the drills. There are 27 different games. Topics covered are piano key names, letter names of notated pitches, rhythmic completions, musical terms, melodic and harmonic intervals, and major scales formed with tetrachords. In every example, the correct answer is played and the student knows instantly if he was right or wrong. (Many times students drill on these concepts and have little idea if they are answering correctly.)
Students as young a 7 years are enjoying working with this program. It is easy to install and to operate. Once installed, the CD is not needed when using the program. It is most effectively used if the teacher is familiar with each game and can suggest specific games that need practice for a particular student.
--Dr. Betty Kluth
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