FEDERATION FAVORITESBook 2FJH Music

Many of the composers in thisedition have been included in otherpublications and are quite popularwith most teachers. The NationalFederation of Music Clubs has a longand distinguished history in the US.

The compositions share common "Cmajor" signatures with two exceptions:Ghost Waltz by Edwin McLean in eminor and Loco-Motive by MelodyBober in c minor. Accidentalsare common to many of the otherrenditions. Time signatures are insimple time; either three four or fourfour. Rabbits in the Snow by Mary Salleeis the only composition asking for anyreach or triad playing. The art work onthe cover will certainly appeal to yourstudents and the copy is beautifullyclean and easy to read. Labeled forElementary/Late Elementary students,I believe most of our elementaryCanadian students would find thesevery accessible and late elementarystudents could enjoy them as quickstudies or sight reading challenges.The style is varied throughout and thetitles descriptive and interesting.First Light by Mary Leaf depicting aNative American Flute and ThunderingDrums by Anita Brandon illustrate theversatility of an acoustical piano. Ourpiano can be a "magic box", which cantransport our players to become storytellers.

Bettijo Smith - Alberta

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PIANO POEMSSusan GriesdaleRedLeaf Pianoworks

Piano Poems contains mildlycontemporary pieces in which talentedCanadian Composer Susan Griesdaleinvites the musician to "unwind andlet the music soothe you". These richhallow calm pieces create a nostalgic,peaceful mood, beautifully enhancedwith invaluable Program Notes. Eachpiece presents a variety of musical andtechnical challenges and Griesdaleidentifies strategies, to enhance theefficiency and accuracy of each piece.Griesdale says she modeled the bookafter the Romantic need for longlines, careful balance and dynamicsto train the intermediate player forthe Romantic repertoire to come.Griesdale shows a very sensitive styleof composition as she presents specificscenes or moods in our minds. Withpieces entitled Remembering You andForgotten, Griesdale links sound withexpression. The third piece LavenderDreams, in the tricky key of f minor,has the pianist enjoying the use of aseamless line between the hands. Themost challenging piece Forgotten hasthe pianist in g# minor with an innermelodic line to contend with. After theRain is an improvisational opportunitywith a given scale over a LH chordalaccompaniment. There are sound clipsavailable at the composer's wesite: www.susangiesdale.com. The quiet pieces ofthis collection contain extra ritardandi,softer dynamics, and are full of upperregister ledger lines, adding to theserenity of this musically rewardingand expressive style. This is an idealbook for someone who plays piano forpleasure and enjoys peaceful sensitiveplaying.

Sarah Lawton - Ontario

Premier Piano CourseMasterworks Books 3 - 6Gayle Kowalchyk & E.L. LancasterAlfred Publishing

Wow! What an awesome collection ofmusic in their orignal form! As I playedthrough the books I discovered not onlystandard repertoire we're accustomedto in the Royal Conservatoryrepertoire books but some wonderfulcompositions from less well knowncomposers. These books contain musicfrom Baroque, Classical, Romantic,and 20th century eras. The pieces in thebooks correlate page by page with thematerials in their corresponding Lessonbooks. I like the fact that terms orsymbols students are not familiar withare defined in footnotes or parentheses.Of particular interest are the PremierPerformer suggestions at the bottom ofthe pages to enhance performance skillsand musical understanding. A greatcompliment to these books are the CDsthat feature 2 tracks of each selection.One at performance tempo and thesecond at a slower practice tempo.

The creators of the Premier PianoCourse have done such a superb jobof covering every style of music andmaking the study of music interesting.Now with these Masterworks tosupport the program it makes it verywell rounded. Because this is standardrepertoire it would work well withany other piano method. These bookscould be used for review to add a littlemore depth to the level or alongsidethe Lesson book. These books were apleasure to review!

Jean Ritter - British Columbia

The Canadian Music Teacher Winter 2014