Intensively involved in the musical development of young pianists’ repertoire, I composed All Graded Piano Compositions Preceded by Composer’ s Concise Analyses, A Series of Four Books:
Book I. Primary: Coming Together Is a Beginning?
Book II. Intermediate: Keeping Together Is Progress
Book III. Advanced: Working Together Is Success?
Book IV. Performer’s ARCT: Ending Together Is Triumph.
This Series is structured progressively from Primary through Intermediate and Advanced to Performer’s ARCT levels. Each piece has been conceived in accordance to the piano program requirements of Canadian institutions, mostly based on The Royal Conservatory of Music Curriculum. Each book include composer’s overall analyses that precede the pieces. Some of the compositions are included in the Canadian Music Showcase 2000 Syllabus (Children’s World, Fourteen Progressive Pieces, and Modes and Moods for Piano); Valachian Dance for Cello;?And, in the École de musique Vincent d’Indy in Montréal 1995 Syllabus (Children’s World). In addition, all my piano compositions were beautifully performed here and abroad. Dr. Elaine Keillor, Dr. Chunson Park and many young pianists have included my works in their repertoires and recitals. Numerous works are recorded on CDs, such as Dr. Keillor’s Canadian Compositions for Young Pianists, Studea Musica, and By a Canadian Lady, Carleton Sounds.
The scope of this series is to enrich the young pianists’ repertoire, improving their technical and interpretative skills while enjoying the piano playing. Performers explore the richness hidden in music’s movements, atmospheres, and sonorities. During the practice, they develop their musical self-expressions, progressing in technical ability and virtuosity. Their imagination is stimulated, the performer being launched on a track to find varieties of musical idioms, from traditional to contemporary. The Series is practical, as it can be used for Piano Repertoire and for Piano Studies requirements as well as for Teacher’s Handbook. It enables students to build a strong technical basis, developing specific musical and technical skills, while enjoying playing piano. The creative blend of traditional and contemporary idioms, applied on all of music parameters in a very appealing and attractive manner, gives this collection a unique professional flavor.
Composer’s Concise Analyses: BOOK III. ADVANCED: WORKING TOGETHER IS SUCCESS? Advanced students have strengthened their technical and interpretive skills and are expected to engage in complex musical questions to gain further insight into repertoire. Further study will push their limits as they select pieces that resonate with them and challenge musical thinking. Students are encouraged to continue listening to a variety of musical genres, composers, and musicians to draw varied ideas and perspectives. Where appropriate, performance opportunities are sought, together with exams, festivals, or competitions in order to enhance students’ ability to critically listen to their own playing and those of their peers. Grade 7 presents a set of two pieces that complement each other regarding their different moods and techniques.
1. PROMENADE (00:00:55) uses a mirror writing technique, while maintaining same dynamics.
2. ROMANCE (00:01:35), in a romantic style, requires fingers to “caress” the piano’s keys, resulting in a shimmering atmosphere. Grade 8 approaches two contrasting compositions.
3. MUSIC AND MEDITATION (00:06:00) is preceded by an adage, “The flow of Music and Meditation is that which cannot be pronounced. Yet, upon which it is impossible to keep silent”, and it rather addresses to our inner lives. This is the manner in which the pianist should perform the piece.?
4. ANECDOTE (00:01:00) is about how to use the piano to speculate the meaning of a funny story! The piece requires a flexible wrist to perform a continuous sixteenth-note motion while outlining the humorous aspect of the anecdote. Grade 9 is represented by two compositions: a study and a repertoire pieces.
5. OCTAVE ETUDE (00:02:15) is based on a repetitive motive. It features the piano octave technique within dynamic markings from pianissimo to mezzoforte. The technique of invertible counterpoint is used as well.
6. SURPRISE-PARTY (00:01:30) outlines modal aspects of mobile degrees; ad libitum performance of surprising changes such as tempo alternations, rhythms, register, dynamics and clusters and an appropriate use of pedal are some of this piece’s challenges. The dynamics, tempo, and the mood of the piece are left to pianist's discretion. Grade 10 concludes the advanced level of this series with a set of two pieces.
7. PORTRAIT (00:05:00) offers advanced-level pianists an evocative musical journey in which a range of contemporary techniques are introduced, such as the proper use of pedal, rapidly performed figures, polychords, cross-over technique, tuplets and, above all, an intimate sense of differentiate dynamics interpretation.
8. FANTASIA (00:08:00), an open form in a free style, requires such advanced instrumental skills as freedom of thoughts and creativity. The pianist should create a rich sound, while maintaining the theme in an appropriate pathetic character. It is as well important attention to be paid to the alternation and layering of different rhythms. This piece offers the interpreter the opportunity to find his own way of musical expression.