July 2018: First Looks: New Music Reviews
July 2018; Vol. 10, No. 4
Six Progressive Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 36, by Muzio Clementi. Authentic Revised Edition (“With Considerable Improvements”), edited by Arthur Houle. This volume presents Clementi’s ubiquitous Op. 36 Sonatinas in “the first and only definitive critical edition based on all the primary sources, with...
January 2018: First Looks: New Music Reviews
January 2018; Vol. 10, No. 1
(S1-2) 24 Short and Easy Pieces, Op. 1, Alexander Reinagle. Highly Recommended Teachers and students enjoy Reinagle’s pieces both for their charming writing and their accessibility to elementary students. Reinagle’s biography, moreover, is a fun and interesting one that connects traditions of European classical music to...
January/February 2017: New Music Reviews
January 2017; Vol. 9, No. 1
(S3) Preludes to Mastery, Books 1 and 2, by Chrissy Ricker. Chrissy Ricker’s two books of preludes provide a fresh and varied assortment of pieces in Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary styles. There are twenty preludes in the two volumes; each is in a different...
Spring 2019: New Music Reviews
Spring 2019; Vol. 11, No. 2
(S1-3) Imaginations Books 1 and 2, by Kevin Olson. Kevin Olson has a knack for creating fresh and original sounds at every teaching level. While incorporating the reading, rhythmic, and technical skills needed to advance the piano student, Imaginations offers a wide variety of appealing pieces. With...
Technology Review: Slack — A Time-Saving App for Collaborative Projects
Spring 2019; Vol. 11, No. 2
Music teachers who collaborate with other equally busy musicians, must find creative ways around full schedules and unusual working hours. Email, text message, and social media platforms are cumbersome when communicating about team teaching, shared events, and group organizations. Consider a new tool to facilitate shared...
First Looks: Music for Young Children® (MYC®), A group piano program for young children
Autumn 2019; Vol. 11, No. 4
MUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (MYC) is a piano-focused music curriculum designed for age-based classes of up to six children (ages 3–9). Founded in Canada by Frances Balodis program’s focus on group learning and parental involvement. in 1980, it was most recently revised in 2015, and is now an international program overseen by directors Olivia and David Ridell. MYC...
Winter 2020: New Music & Materials Reviews
Winter 2020; Vol. 11, No. 5
(S4) TOCCATA “HYGAGAN,” OPUS 229by Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee From the FJH Contemporary Keyboard Sheets, Toccata “Hygagan” by Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee is an engaging and virtuosic late-intermediate piano solo. Born in Massachusetts, Rahbee is a first-generation Armenian American. She was a piano major at Juilliard, and a...
Summer 2021: Questions & Answers
Summer 2021; Vol. 13, No. 2
Q. My elementary students want to explore the piano pedals, but they are too small to reach without straining or dangling off the bench. What do you recommend? A. The piano pedals are certainly wonderful for the resonance and color they provide, and this does spark interest...