It’s here! The book I have been working on for more than a year is now published and on the market! Hal Leonard is even featuring this book on their rotating showcase. Returning to the Piano, A Refresher Book for Adults is a music book for those who are returning to the piano after taking several years of lessons as a child. What makes this book unique, besides the fact that it does not start at the very beginning of music study as adult methods usually do, is that it contains music that adults LOVE, not just “methody” pieces that they endure to accomplish their goals!
This book contains popular music, movie themes, classical pieces, folk songs, and some original pieces as well. Among the familiar titles are:
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Forrest Gump – Main Title (Feather Theme)
Sweet Home Alabama
Amazing Grace
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
I Walk the Line
The Music of the Night
Stand by Me
Let It Be
Nocturne by Chopin
Turkey in the Straw
and much more!
Included with the book are 2 CDs so that adults can play their favorite pieces with a rich and exciting accompaniment. Two tracks are recorded for every piece. The first track is a very slow practice tempo of the piece; the second track is the piece at performance speed.
If you have know an adult that is interested in returning to the piano, this might be just the book for them!
Congratulations Wendy- I’ll have to check it out! 🙂
I don’t have any adults right now, but I want to get some so I can use this book! It sounds wonderful.
Wow! Wendy…This is a fabulous idea and a rather innovative and new idea! Returning adutls will love it. Even some older traditional piano students will like your selections too. You may very well be creating a new trend for the market; a pioneer, so to say!!! Congratulations!
I can’t wait to get my mitts on this book! I have a crop of senior adults returning to piano. Meanwhile I was thrilled to read on Dollarhide’s blog that the cd is enhanced. There are MIDI files. Hurray!
Congratulations Wendy! I just ordered the book and can not wait until I arrives. This will save me tons of time searching for appropriately leveled arrangements of requested songs – so many of which you have included in this book! Especially the Forrest Gump Theme…thanks for that one – Love it.
Wow, Wendy! I am SO excited to see this book! I always struggle with deciding what method to use with adult students, because they aren’t always total beginners, and I want them to play music that is appealing to them. This sounds like it may be the perfect solution. I just finished ordering one – I can’t wait until it arrives!
I just finished using this book with an adult student. We are hoping there is a Book 2? If not, what do you recommend after finishing “Returning to the Piano?”
Hi Melinda,
Thanks for asking! As far as I know, there is no Book 2. That is a Hal Leonard publication and I’m no longer writing for them, so you might ask them if there are plans for a Book 2 with another composer.
Thanks for your interest!