Studio of Lillian Simmons

Music Publications

Course Textbooks

Sheet Music Vendors:

PianoatPepper.com

Alfred's Basic Piano Courses

Age group: 7-9:
Alfred's Premier Piano Course
Supplemental sheet music books

For other ages:
Link to all Alfred's piano courses at Sheet Music Plus vendor
Piano Lane vendor
Supplemental sheet music books at Alfred's website

Literature for parents of piano students:

A parent's guide to music lessons by Vera G. Wills and Ande Manners

Literature for children:

* The Body Atlas, by Steve Parker (Dorling Kindersley Publishing, l993). A big, beautifully illustrated guide to the human anatomy, it includes colorful drawings that are large, clear and interesting. Explanations are simple and nontechnical. This is a powerful visual tool in building awareness of the "body map" that is suitable for all ages and levels, but especially enjoyable for children.

* What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body: The Practical Application of Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique to Making Music, by Barbara and Benjamin Conable (Andover, 1998). This is a charming but powerfully informative book with humorous and helpful cartoon illustrations and is easy to understand and readable for young musicians.

Literature for adult students:

Here are some recommendations from our membership of books that could be given to adult students wanting to read more about music study.
-The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Madeline Bruser
-The Performer Prepares by Robert Caldwell
-The Young Person's Guide to Playing the Piano by Sidney Harrison
-The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green and Timothy Gallwey
-A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances by Eloise Ristad
-The Great Pianists by Harold Schonberg
-Just Being at the Piano by Mildred Portney Chase
-Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner
-Indirect Procedures: A Musician's Guide to the Alexander Technique by Pedro de Alcantara
-What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body: The Practical Application of Body Mapping to Making Music by Barbara Conable
-The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory by Michael Miller. Comes with a CD, too.

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* What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body, by Thomas Mark (GIA Publications, Inc., 2003). This book and video are excellent for all musicians, but are most appropriate for serious students and adult keyboardists.

* Somatics: Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility and Health, by Thomas Hanna (Harper Collins Publishers, 1988). This gives specific, effective exercises for understanding, releasing and relieving chronic muscle tension throughout the body. This book is suitable only for teachers, performers and mature students.

* How to Learn the Alexander Technique: A Manual for Students, by Barbara Conable (Andover Press, 1995). This is one of the best books for self-instruction in Body Mapping, as well as the Alexander Technique. It is appropriate for mature students, teachers and performers.

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, by Davis, Eshelman and McKay (New Harbinger Publications, Inc. l995). This is a comprehensive and practical guide to various relaxation and stress-reduction techniques. Clearly written and well formatted, it is a valuable resource for all performing and teaching musicians.

Movies

Spring Symphony

Vitus

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