Helen Marlais
Pianist, Pedagogue, Pedagogical author.
This series is devoted to ageless jazz, blues and ragtime pieces. The composers/arrangers were commissioned to create engaging original solos and arrangements, and the result is an assortment of carefully leveled solos (12) and one equal-part duet. Ten of the twelve solos include an optional duet. Eighth notes don’t appear in this volume, but syncopations...
This composition is the first of its kind for The FJH Music Contemporary Keyboard Editions. Written for piano and orchestra, it provides a perfect showpiece for a student pianist who has an opportunity to play with an orchestra. The orchestral part has been arranged for a second piano and also comes with an optional percussion...
This collection contains exciting contemporary pieces (solos and duets) by seven leading FJH composers that will open up a world of new sounds through bitonality, chromaticism, jazz harmonies, mixed meters, ostinato patterns, whole tone scales, aleatoric writing, and unique pedal effects – all that are fun to play! This collection will give students the opportunity...
Contemporary Collage, Volume 1, Book 3 consists of 17 intermediate through early advanced original contemporary pieces from FJH composers: Edwin McLean, Timothy Brown, Emma Lou Diemer, Andrey Komanetsky, Kevin Olson, Dianne Rahbee, Martín Kutnowski, and Dimitar Ninov. Pianists will get exposure to many contemporary sounds and techniques through these new and fresh compositions. TABLE OF...
Inspired by Witold Lutoslawki’s approach to form and melody, Timothy Brown has created this innovative work consisting of five preludes for the advanced pianist. Written for two pianists, this duet features simple folk-like melodies that are combined with mixed meters, dissonance, bitonality and other challenging contemporary devices. Dance Preludes is a colorful experimentation in timbre...
Book 2 continues towards the development of a healthy, natural, and effective technique. Reinforcing concepts such as: five-finger patterns; staccato; two-part counterpoint; and then introducing new concepts such as: three-note slurs; blocked and broken intervals; and playing chords and inversions, will hone students’ technical abilities with a focused and organized approach. Each book is divided...
In Book 3 of Etudes with Technique, new techniques covered include: five-finger patterns and octave scales; independence of hands; triads and inversions; trills; chordal playing; and two-note slurs. Each technique is supported by several etudes to thoroughly exercise the technique. This book is correlated to The Festival Collection®, Book 3, and Succeeding with the Masters®...
This 56-page book presents new techniques and expands on previous ones such as Five Finger Patterns and Extensions, Scale Preparation and Octave Scales, Slurs and Phrasing, Broken Chords and Alberti Bass, Double Notes, and Repeated Notes. Most of the 33 etudes, written by composers from Baroque to Contemporary periods, are one page in length with...
Most of the 28 etudes written by illustrious teacher-pianists (Gurlitt, Le Couppey, Türk, Beyer, Streabbog, Czerny) are two pages long. The selections reinforce technical concepts, but they are not just “exercises”? but delightful pieces that can be programmed for recital or performance. Unit 1 focuses on Trills; Unit 2-Crossovers; Unit 3-Double Notes; Unit 4-Blocked and...
Intuitive Journeys is a late intermediate through advanced collection of piano solos that invites students to explore the emotional messages behind the notes written on the page. Students are encouraged to use their instincts and imagination to create their own musical experience, and enjoy the process of self-discovery.
