I had the pleasure to hear her play. On one hand, she's very inspiring for us ABers. On the other hand, it drives the difference home between talented, hardworking ABers (Linda) and the slackers (me).

Thanks, Steve. Just curious, do you know if these pieces are arrangements, or originals?

Boxer,

I believe they are originals or pieces of originals. You can look at some of their sample pages online and draw your own conclusion. You could also give them a call on the telephone.

Bottom line, they put together a real nice "total package". I use the CD with the literature and I think it is great. I play the CD daily before working on a piece and it helps me a great deal. By the time I am done with a piece I may have my own slight variation but the CD is great for keeping me on the right track. It is amazing how much faster I can learn a piece when I already have an idea of what it should sound like.

I started with Faber's "Adult Piano Adventures" and "Celebration Series" was really quite a jump. I was very frustrated for about a month but then it started to come together. "First get the right hand, then the left hand, etc..".

Gosh, I am stealing Linda's thread. Sorry Linda. Please come back and tell us how you use the "Celebration Series".

Regards,
Steve

The Celebration Series sounds similar to the "Masterwork Classics" series that Alfred puts out, which I recently started using. This is also a graded series (up to level 10, though the levels don't equate with the ABRSM grades) and also a nice total package. You can get the books with a CD. I agree with Steve--this has made a big difference in my ability to learn a piece. Usually it makes me realize how slow I tend to play everything.

For the first 4 or 5 books you can also get an accompanying "Practice and Performance" which helps you analyze each piece, suggests a practice routine for learning the piece, and tells you what to listen for in your playing. I have found this to be a tremendous help.

Masterwork Classics w/CD
http://www.pianolane.com/v2/catalog/searchresults.asp

Practice and Performance
http://www.pianolane.com/v2/catalog/searchresults.asp

Matt

Those links don't seem to work. But anyone who is interested can do a catalog search at their favorite online music store. I bought mine from pianolane.

Hi, All:

I'm back. Sorry for delayed response.

Stevester:[/b] Thanks for picking up the slack for me! Feel free to steal my threads anytime.

NAK:[/b] Hi! Haven't seen you around PW in a while (of course, I've been offline for a couple of weeks myself). Thanks for the kind words! I hear things are hot and humid in your neck of the woods. Same here - ugh! (this graemlin is "burn" as in sunburn, not "burn" as in angry)

markb:[/b] You are no slacker!!! I wish I were as far along with my theory studies as are you. And I thought your solo playing and our duet was just fine! Look forward to another duet in the Fall - but let's coordinate so we can practice in advance. But thanks for the confidence booster - you are a sweetie.

Sandy:[/b] No, I play most of the pieces in each grade level, working from one Study Module to the next. I also work on several additional pieces outside of the RCM curriculum. My exam pieces are generally from the last or next to last Study Module, so I'm pretty much ready to move on to the next level by the time I take the exam. What Gr. 4 pieces are you playing right now?

Boxer:[/b] I saw your PM and just sent you a rather lengthy reply. The only thing that I'll add here is that for me, the most important aspect of the RCM program is not the Celebration Series albums or CDs. Almost any grade appropriate literature will do just fine - although I do like the pieces in this series (all original). Rather, it is the curriculum, itself - outlined in the Piano Syllabus - with its broad focus on technique, ear training, sight reading, theory, analysis, etc., that I find most useful.

hillhart:[/b] I haven't seen the Masterwork Classics series. Do you know if there is their a published curriculum to which the Alfred series corresponds?

. . . Linda

I'm working from Michael Aaron's Grade 4 book. Just finished (sort of ) Moonlight (1st mov.) and Chopin Waltz in B- and Sonatina (3rd mov.) I don't have a new one started yet - thinking about jumping into Nocture (John Field) or Mozart's Sonata in A Major - Have you done either of these?

No, I haven't, but the the Field Nocturne sounds interesting. I heard it performed several months ago and made a mental note to look it once my exam was over. Well, I guess it's time to go check it out. I'm still plugging away with the Grieg Nocturne, but loving every minute of it!

Congrats on getting the 1st movement of Moolight under your belt! That's cause for a celebration. Go have a glass of bubbly and pretend that I'm there applauding you and patting your on the back.