Dennis Agay. A method and repertory for the beginner. Optional duet part for some pieces. All in large notes, very clear and easy to read.

The Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education in the United States identifies the critical need for change in Pre-K-12 music education. Collectively, the handbook's 56 contributors argue that music education benefits all students only if educators actively work to broaden diversity in the profession and consistently include diverse learning strategies, experiences, and perspectives in the classroom. In this handbook, contributors encourage music teachers, researchers, policy makers, and music teacher educators to take up that challenge. Throughout the handbook, contributors provide a look at ways music teacher educators prepare teachers to enter the music education profession and offer suggestions for ways in which new teachers can advocate for and adapt to changes in contemporary school settings. Building upon students' available resources, contributors use research-based approaches to identify the ways in which educational methods and practices must transform in order to successfully challenge existing music education boundaries.

How do children learn music? And how can music teachers help children to become independent and self-sufficient musical thinkers? Author Eric Bluestine sheds light on these issues in music education.

Functional Skills for Pianists addresses the need for a comprehensive anthology of musical examples in a wide variety of styles (Baroque through Modern) for keyboard majors (performance, pedagogy, collaborative pianists), keyboard principals (music education, music therapy, music business,church music, liberal arts majors), and composition/theory students. Its Topical structure allows teachers the freedom to design lessons that meet varied abilities and needs of students. It is Comprehensive on two levels: 1) it includes introductory guidelines on fundamentals followed by numerousexamples that are sequenced from beginning through advanced levels and 2) while it covers the development of skills found in beginning texts, it extends to more demanding sight reading material and substantive sections on figured bass realization and jazz/popular music harmonization. Currently,there is not a book on the market that covers such a wide variety and range of functional keyboard skills.

The Music Tree series continues the development of complete musicianship by providing the beginner with delightful and varied repertoire. The pupil learns a variety of idioms encompassing folk, jazz and pop. The creativity of the students is emphasized since they are given musical segments to rearrange, transpose, complete or to use as the basis for a new composition. Technical aspects are also addressed including greater facility, blocked intervals and chords, and more hands together playing. Guided training steps are used to encourage intelligent practice skills.

(Amadeus). This holistic approach to the keyboard, based on a sound understanding of the relationship between physical function and musical purpose, is an invaluable resource for pianists and teachers. Professor Fink explains his ideas and demonstrates his innovative developmental exercises that set the pianist free to express the most profound musical ideas. HARDCOVER.