There have been a lot of questions lately about how the Hal Leonard First Choice club (new release club) is structured. It seems that since Hal Leonard is now distributing Nancy and Randall Faber’s materials, more teachers are interested in what Hal Leonard is offering. In the past, some might have viewed HL as a “pop” music company and less of a piano pedagogy publisher. However, that has changed over the years. Yes, Hal Leonard still owns many copyrights to pop tunes and will always have many popular arrangements available, but their piano pedagogical materials department has been and continues to grow. Hal Leonard offers many books, sheets, and resources that are important to piano teachers.
Here is are a few answers to some questions that have been asked recently:
1. The HL First Choice New Release Clube is definitely different from a year ago. The kinds of things that you will see in your packet include:
Hal Leonard Student Piano Library
Composer Showcase Collections
The Phillip Keveren Series
Eugénie Rocherolle Series
Schirmer Performance Editions (these are great by the way…beautiful covers, great off white paper, good editing and a great performance CD)
Sheet Music
There is occasionally some pop music arrangements, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
2. There is no “annual fee” to join. Shipments are $30 and come 4 times a year in January, April, July, and October. Shipping is included in that price. Over a period of a year, you will receive over $200 in music.
3. The Fabers’ materials will not be in the HL club as they are a separate entity that is just distributed by Hal Leonard.
4. Hal Leonard sends out a catalogue of music several times a year from which you can order any music at 40% off (limit 2 copies).
5. A new Level 1 piece of mine will be included in the January shipment! Woo-hoo! Now you definitely want to join, huh? 😉
6. Here are some samples of what has been in the past few shipments:
APRIL 2009 SHIPMENT
NEW BEGINNINGS
Elmo’s Song (Pre-staff sheet)
Yo-Ho-Ho! (Level 1 sheet)
Piano Recital Showcase Book 1
Phillip Keveren International Folksongs
First Lessons in Bach (book and CD)
Disney Hits
MOVING ON UP
Joplin Ragtime (arr. Fred Kern)
Piano Recital Showcase Book 4
Water Lily Garden (Carol Klose, Level 5 sheet)
Debussy Children’s Corner (book and CD)
Camel Ride (Level 3 sheet)
Crocodile Rock (arr. Klose, Level 5 sheet)
Disney Songs
MIXED BAG
Elmo’s Song (Pre-staff sheet)
Piano Recital Showcase Book 1
Phillip Keveren International Folksongs
Camel Ride (Level 3 sheet)
Joplin Ragtime (arr. Fred Kern)
Debussy Children’s Corner (book and CD)
Water Lily Garden (Carol Klose, Level 5 sheet)
JULY 2009 SHIPMENT
NEW BEGINNINGS
Scales Patterns & Improvs BK/CD 296733
All-In-One Book B BK/CD 296776
New Orleans Jamboree 296788-Boyd (Level 2 sheet)
Piano Recital Pre-staff 296784
Classic Pop/Rock Hits 311548
Achievement Stickers 296185
Practice Record 210110
MOVING ON UP
Sonatina Humoresque 296772 (TSITSAROS)
St. Louis Rag 296781 (LINN-LEV 4 SHEET)
Garden Treasures 296787 (KLOSE)
Current Hits (ARR: REJINO) 296768
Two’s Company (duets) (Eugenie Rocherolle series) BK/CD 311883
SCHIRMER EDITION: Chopin selected preludes BK/CD 296720
HLSPL Manuscript Paper 296306
MIXED BAG
Scales Patterns & Improvs BK/CD 296733
New Orleans Jamboree 296788 (BOYD- LEV 2 SHEET)
Sonatina Humoresque 296772 (TSITSAROS)
St. Louis Rag 296781 (LINN-LEV 4 SHEET)
Garden Treasures 296787 (KLOSE)
Current Hits 296768 (ARR. REJINO)
All-In-One Book B BK/CD 296776
OCTOBER 2009 SHIPMENT
NEW BEGINNINGS
Phillip Keveren Series: Jazzy Tunes
More Christmas Pre-staff
More Christmas 1
More Christmas 2
Ear Without Fear 1 BK/CD
Student Keyboard Guide
The Parent’s Guide (Breth)
MOVING ON UP
Merry Christmas Medleys (ARR: REJINO)
Christmas Impressions (ARR: LINN)
Schirmer Edition: Schubert Impromptus BK/CD
More Christmas 4
More Christmas 3
Contemporary Movie Hits (ARR: KLOSE,LINN,STEVENS)
MIXED BAG
Merry Christmas Medleys (ARR: REJINO)
Candlelight Christmas BK/CD (EUGENIE ROCHEROLLE SERIES)
More Christmas 2
Schirmer Edition: Schubert Impromptus BK/CD
Wide Staff Manuscript
Contemporary Movie Hits (ARR: KLOSE,LINN,STEVENS)
Now, don’t you want to join?
How do you get the 2 books 40% off, do you order them through Hal Leonard? or do you use your regular music store?
Hi Rebecca,
Just call Hal Leonard at 1-800-322-1127 and ask to be put on their mailing list and join their First Choice New Release club. That is how you will get the 40% off catalogue which will give you a code which you can mention when you order. If you join, I’ll be they might even give you the discount this time if you ask them.