You Can Teach Yourself Gospel Piano (You Can Teach Yourself)
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Seasoned piano educator Gail Smith offers this beginning-level piano method employing gospel, Christmas and sacred tunes. This volume begins with an introduction to elementary note reading on the piano. A brief dictionary of musical terms and basic piano chord encyclopedia are included. Carefully sequenced exercises and arrangements allow the student to progress gradually from simple arrangements to more elaborate settings, gradually incorporating right and left hand fills and patterns. In order to illustrate various arranging concepts, some tunes are shown in two settings-one simple, the other more complex. This is a great book to be used with or without lessons to learn the art of piano improvisation. On the 99-track CD (sold separate or in a book/cd set), the author talks and plays through the entire book. The author's goal is to encourage students to create their own gospel piano arrangements.
About the Author
Gail Smith was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on January 26, 1943. Gail's father, Carl Erick Johnson, sang tenor in the church choir. Her mother, Ethel, played the piano and had Gail start piano lessons.
Smith received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Florida Atlantic University. She has taught piano students from the age of 3 to 96! Her blind student, Ivan, was seen on national TV. Giving musical lecture recitals by portraying the composer's wife has been an effective way to reach audiences with the history of music. Gail has portrayed Marian MacDowell and Anna Magdalena Bach. She gives many workshops and concerts throughout the United States as well as in Germany and Japan.
Smith's life has revolved around her family, church and music. She was the pianist of the famed Coral Ridge Presbyterian church for many years. She has been active in many organizations including being national Music Chairman of the National League of American Pen Women and is a former president of the Broward County branch. Ms. Smith is also a member of The Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge, National Music Teachers Association, and Federation of Music Clubs.
Ms. Smith's works include many piano solos, choral works, a piano trio, a composition for four pianos and numerous vocal solos. She has arranged hundreds of hymns, Indian melodies, and folk tunes from many countries. Her trademark is her piano palindromes, which can be played backwards as well as forwards and sound the same.
You Can Teach Yourself Gospel Piano (You Can Teach Yourself),Gail Smith,Mel Bay Publications, Inc.,0786634200,General,Music
You Can Teach Yourself Gospel Piano (You Can Teach Yourself)
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