Lesson Book: Premier Piano Course, Level 4 students will be playing interesting pieces that use triplets and sixteenth notes. Musical styles range from jazz and ragtime to original pieces by master composers. New concepts introduced include natural and harmonic minor scales, one octave arpeggios and chord inversions. 

 

Theory Book: Students are finding the Theory Books in Premier Piano Course not only fun to do but very helpful in reinforcing new materials introduced in the Lesson Book. The Learning Links included in the Theory Book relate to learning more about important subjects found in the music and lyrics in the Lesson Book making for a more rounded education. Continued from previous Theory Books are Fun Zones, Now Hear This (ear training), and Now Play This (sight reading exercises), which add additional reinforcement to written theory. Students can explore composition and creative activities with the Imagination Stations.
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Technique: Technique 4 continues and expands on the technical and artistic tools learned in Technique books 1A - 3. The five new Technique Tools introduced are: staccato against legato, playing in and out of black keys, speed links, open the hand, and rock the Alberti bass. Artistic Etudes showcase a students technique in an expressive musical setting, and Hands-Together Workshops focus on developing the skills necessary for coordinating hands-together playing. Masterwork Etudes provide training to play standard masterworks. Each page in the Technique Book correlates with a specific page in the Lesson Book.
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Performance: With fresh and appealing music written for todays students, Performance Book 4 of Alfred Premier Piano Course gradually incorporates triplets and sixteenth notes. Students will play a variety of styles ranging from lyrical ballads, pieces with rhythmic flair, jazz, boogie, and ragtime, to original classics. New concepts include natural and harmonic minor scales (A and E minor), one octave arpeggios and chord inversions. The music, complete with performance tips, carefully supports the new concepts contained in the corresponding Lesson Book 4. Each piece on the CD was recorded at a performance tempo and a slower practice tempo. 32 pages.
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Duet Book: Alfreds Premier Piano Course, Duet 4 includes motivational music that reinforces concepts introduced in Lesson 4. These duets for one piano, four hands continue the strong pedagogical focus of the course while providing the enjoyment of playing with a friend or family member. Written by Americas leading pedagogical composers, these duets contain equally leveled parts for secondo and primo. Within each duet, melodic material is shared between the parts. Styles and forms include a ballad, a jazz piece, a dance, pieces in Latin styles, and an arrangement of a famous symphony movement. Titles: Bossa Brasilia (Dennis Alexander) * Caribbean Sunrise (Wynn-Anne Rossi) * Emoji Magic (Tom Gerou) * Mountain Serenity (Mike Springer) * Scenes from Barcelona (Martha Mier) * Smoke and Mirrors (Robert D. Vandall) * Symphony No. 40 (Theme from the 1st Movement) (Arr. Carol Matz) * Voyage on the High Seas (Melody Bober).
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Pop & Movie Hits: Your students favorite pop and movie hits have been arranged to correlate with Lesson Book 4. Titles: Batman Theme * Be Our Guest (from Walt Disneys Beauty and the Beast) * Blue Moon * Cruella De Vil (from Walt Disneys 101 Dalmatians) * Endless Love * Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) * Theme from Ice Castles (Through the Eyes of Love) * Inspector Gadget (Theme) * New Soul * The Pink Panther * The Sound of Silence.
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Jazz, Rag & Blues: Premier Piano Course, Jazz, Rags & Blues 4 includes original pieces that reinforce concepts introduced in Lesson Book 4. Popular composer Martha Mier has composed all new music in a variety of styles, including ragtime, boogie, and jazz. The pieces in the book correlate page by page with the materials in Lesson Book 4.
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Christmas: Familiar motivational pieces for the holiday season using the same concepts introduced in the corresponding Lesson Book. Titles: Away in a Manger * Deck the Halls * The First Noel * Hark! the Herald Angels Sing * Joy to the World * O Come O Come Emmanuel * Rise Up Shepherd and Follow * Russian Dance (Trepak) (from The Nutcracker) * Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town * Silent Night * Ukrainian Bell Carol. 24 pages.

 

Masterworks: Premier Piano Course Masterworks Book 4 includes standard repertoire from the four stylistic periods to reinforce concepts introduced in Lesson Book 4. Except for "Jazzy Trumpets," the pieces are in their original form and have not been adapted. Dynamics, phrasing, fingering, and pedal are editorial in some selections. The editors have also added titles to untitled pieces. Performance skills and musical understanding are enhanced through Premier Performer suggestions. Students will enjoy performing these pieces for family and friends in a formal recital or on special occasions.
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