Beginning pianists will rejoice in this collection of original, fun-to-play pieces by a noted American composer. First published between 1939 and 1945, the melodies provide an interesting and positive musical experience while building technical skills and sight reading. The songs start simply and incrementally, adding more complexity as students progress through the book.
Virtuoso pianist Janice Weber provides additional guidance, and the collection...

Known for his spectacular performances, the magnificent Wladziu Valentino Liberace was a world-renowned star in the entertainment industry for more than four decades, and his dazzling, often outrageous costumes are what made him most memorable. In Liberace Extravaganza! the entertainer's sequined, bejeweled, and rhinestone-studded outfits, as well as his extravagant collection of furs, feather capes, sparkling bow ties, and custom-made

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Pedaling--for color, for sonority, for sustaining certain tones--is an art, but one that must be based on historical considerations and on an understanding of the composer's intent. In The Pianist's Guide to Pedaling, Joseph Banowetz and four distinguished contributors present a comprehensive view of the subject. Here are practical suggestions and musicological insights pertaining to the performance of keyboard music from the eighteenth to the twentieth...

A master of technique advocates a balanced approach to piano playing in this comprehensive guide. The first part discusses practice methods, use of the pedal, playing pieces as written, and other rules. The second section answers frequently asked questions about body and hand positions, wrist and arm action, phrasing, and much more.

This comprehensive A-to-Z reference is comprised of detailed and authoritative entries on every aspect of the great composer's life. Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous and revered composers in classical music. His instantly recognizable concertos and symphonies continue to be among the most performed by symphonies across the globe. In this definitive reference volume, eminent musicologist Paul Nettl provides students and researchers...

Since the 1981 publication of the first edition, Cameron McGraw's Piano Duet Repertoire has been a trusted guide for duet performers. This second edition, edited and substantially expanded by Christopher and Katherine Fisher, brings the volume into the 21st century, adding over 500 new or updated composer entries and nearly 1,000 new work entries to the volume, a testament to the renewed interest in piano duet playing. Entries are arranged alphabetically...

An internationally renowned pianist presents a delightful "piano's-eye view" of Western European and American social history from the 16th through 20th centuries. With wit and erudition, Loesser traces the history of the instrument's design and manufacture and its music, from the clavichord and harpsichord to the modern spinet and concert grand.

Amusing and thought-provoking, this A-to-Z compendium outlines common oral and written gaffes. Ambrose Bierce, a celebrated literary wit, assembled his informative compilation in 1909 from many years of observations and notes. He advocates precision in language, offering alternatives to grammatical lapses and inaccurate word choices. Moneyed for Wealthy: "The moneyed men of New York." One might as sensibly say, "The cattled men of Texas," or, "The...

Leo Ornstein: Modernist Dilemmas, Personal Choices traces the meteoric rise and heretofore inexplicable disappearance of the Russian-American, futurist-anarchist, pianist-composer from his arrival in the United States in 1906 through a career that lasted nearly a century. Outliving his admirers and critics by decades Leo Ornstein passed away in 2002 at the age of 108. Frequently compared to Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg, for a time Ornstein...

Hard-to-find book documents principles and techniques of legendary piano teacher, who taught Paderewski, Schnabel, many other greats. Clear, easy-to-follow text, profusely illustrated with music examples and photographs of hand positions. Includes finger exercises, scales, octaves, chords, arpeggios, dynamics, the pedal, many other topics.