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Irish Celebration: Clavier Companion Review

Wendy — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:50 +0000

In this month’s Clavier Companion (July/August 2010), Susan Geffen has written some very kind things about my Level 1 Irish Celebration piece. In her introductory paragraph, she talks about early level pieces which:

1. Can realistically be accomplished by 4-6 year olds who have limited visual and fine motor skills.

2. Have a clean page layout with minimal distractions,

3. Have colorful artwork that inspires imagination and storytelling,

4. Sound more difficult to play than they really are.

Irish Celebration is one of these early pieces which she thinks fit these criteria. Here is some of what she said:

This solo is an excellent first recital piece for a very early beginner. Written in C position, the right-hand melody moves almost entirely in stepwise progression while the left hand plays only three different notes. In spite of its simplicity, the piece allows the teacher to concentrate on the proper use of dynamics, and it introduces the music markings dal segno, coda, and dal segno al coda. Written in three-quarter time, the piece has a dance-like quality (the artwork suggest an Irish jig), and the teacher accompaniment provides a supportive steady beat in the form of a mostly drone bass…

Read more on page 56 of the July/August 2010 issue of Clavier Companion.

Hal Leonard Offer: 40% off until July 31st

Wendy — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:00:40 +0000

The Hal Leonard 40% off teacher discount has almost expired. You have until July 31st to place your order. When you call, ask for Jody or Andrea and tell them Wendy Stevens says “Hi!” They are part of the very friendly sales staff that I met in Texas! (Of course, you can talk to anyone…but they were great!)Here are the details:

Hal Leonard has just announced its spring special offers for teachers: Order up to two copies of these specially selected music publications at a 40% discount. The special offer includes:

• Hal Leonard Student Piano Library Method Materials
• Adult Piano Method
• Composer Showcase Series
Featuring the music of Phillip Keveren, Carol Klose, Jennifer Linn, Mona Rejino, Christos Tsitsaros, and others
• Willis Music Publications
Featuring the music of John Thompson, William Gillock, Glenda Austin, Eric Baumgartner and others
• Teaching Materials
• Supplementary Music and Much More!

Visit the Spring Savings Catalog page for lists of available titles. If you are on their mailing list, you should be receiving their catalogue in the mail soon. Order online or call the Hal Leonard Teacher VIP line at 1-800-322-1127.

To receive advance notice of these offers from Hal Leonard, join the HL Yahoo group or call 1-800-322-1127 to be added to their mailing list.

American Portraits Review #1

Wendy — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:00:47 +0000

Susan Paradis at Piano Teacher Resources has just reviewed my new book American Portraits on her site. She begins,

Wendy Stevens the creative teacher from ComposeCreate has a new book, hot off the press, called American Portraits, Six Character Pieces for Piano Solo. The premise of this book is original. Wendy chose 6 people from American history, unsung heroes as she writes in the preface, and wrote a piece about each of them. I love history and I am actually certified to teach it, so I was immediately intrigued by this book and rushed down to the Hal Leonard booth at TMTA and bought a copy. I am glad that I did, because I have been enjoying playing through the book and getting to know the pieces…

Read Susan’s thorough review or visit this post to read more information about the book and order it from your favorite online retailer!

Prima Music Sale through June 15th

Wendy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:55 +0000

Prima music is advertising that they will be having all kinds of sales this summer! These sales look as though they will be lasting about 2 weeks. Currently, these items are on sale through June 15th:

Developing Artist Series 40-50% off
Piano Adventures (Adult, My First PA, Accelerated PA, PA) 25% off
Alfred Famous and Fun Series 25% off
Alfred Sacred Performer Series 25% off (this page instructs you to log in for discount. This page indicates that these are on sale. They are also offering free shipping.

My Returning to the Piano book is now available from Prima Music! The popular Easy Hymn Solos Series and the new NFMC approved Twister piece is also available.

Speaking of NFMC pieces, in case you missed it, there is now a website that will assist you in viewing NFMC pieces so that you can evaluate their difficuly online. See Online Samples of NFMC Pieces for more information.

Online Samples of NFMC Pieces

Wendy — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:00:02 +0000

If you do not have a large music store in your area, I know it can be difficult to choose music for your students when you cannot preview the music. Valerie, from Dollarhide Music Center (in Pensecola, Florida), has made a list of ALL the pieces on the new NFMC Bulletin that have samples to view online! This should make shopping for your NFMC music much easier.

My favorite part of what Valerie has done is to link directly to the music sample rather than to a page on which you’ll have to click yet again to see the music. I plan to use this in the next year as I pick my student’s recital music.

Thanks Valerie, for making all of our lives easier as teachers!

Pre-Primary and Primary Class I-IV

Elementary and Medium Class

Moderately Difficult and Difficult Class

Copyrights and Music Teachers

Wendy — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:00:44 +0000

T. Scott Gilligan, the general counsel for MTNA, has written a great article on copyrights for the independent music teacher. Included in the article is a discussion of what is legal to post on youtube, making arrangements for your students, page turning copies, etc. I would encourage everyone to read this very informative article.

Here are a few highlights:

Isn’t any musical work composed prior to 1923 in the public domain?
Yes, but be careful. It is true that music and lyrics written by an American author and published prior to 1923 are in the public domain in the United States. Once a work is in the public domain, it can be used by everyone. Anything placed in the public domain is a complete abandonment of all rights. Therefore, if a work has been put in public domain because the copyright has expired or because the copyright holder abandons their rights and places the work in public domain, it is available for anyone to use in any way they wish. For example, the classical works of Bach and Beethoven are free for anyone to use.

It is important, however, to clearly understand what is in the public domain and what is not. While all of Beethoven’s musical works are in public domain, most of the sheet music of Beethoven’s works would not be in the public domain. That sheet music would, unless created prior to 1923, be protected by copyright. The same is true with sound recordings of Beethoven’s symphonies. The publisher of the sound recording would have copyright protection in it even though the underlying musical works that were performed were in the public domain.

To summarize this, remember that “editions” of Beethoven’s and many other composers works are under copyright, though the original music is not. What is being protected is the editor and the pubisher’s editorial decisions, formatting, etc.

Another relevant question for today’s students and teachers:

May I legally post a video of a student’s recital on YouTube?
It will depend upon the music that is played on the video. If the music is in the public domain and the student gives you permission to post the video, then there is no copyright infringement. However, if the music being played is covered by a copyright, then the posting on YouTube without the copyright holder’s permission constitutes an infringement of the copyright holder’s synchronization and broadcasting rights.

With the tremendous growth of YouTube and the posting of numerous amateur videos containing commercial music, YouTube has already faced the infringement issue. Several music publishers have written cease and desist letters to YouTube and to amateurs posting videos to YouTube. Currently, if YouTube receives such a letter, it will remove the video upon the request of the copyright holder.

With that in mind, you might ask this question:

Do I need a music license from ASCAP or BMI to hold a piano recital for my students?
One of the rights held by a copyright owner of a musical work is the exclusive right to perform the work in public. If music is performed in a public place or if music is transmitted to the public via radio, television, music on hold, or by the Internet, it may only be done with the permission of the copyright holder. That permission is typically obtained by purchasing a music license from the three primary music licensing organizations of ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

Please note that a music license from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC is only required for public performance of music. Music performed in a private residence, during an educational lesson in a private studio, or as part of a private recital involving a selected group of students does not constitute a public performance. Therefore, recitals by a music instructor’s students for a select group of family and friends would not constitute a public performance and would not require a music license.

Lest you think that all of these restrictions are unfair, please remember that without copyright protection, many composers would be unmotivated to make new music, especially pedagogical music. It might be interesting for you to know who makes what in music publishing in order to appreciate the protection that is given to composers, without whom there would be no new music.

There are a number of other questions answered by the MTNA general counsel which are not so restrictive. Please read the informative article for a full understanding of what you can and cannot copy without violating copyright.

Twister on the 2011 Federated List!

Wendy — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:00:27 +0000

My piece Twister is now in the new 2011-2013 Federation of Music Clubs Bulletin! It is on page 12 and is in the Primary Class II Piano Solo category.

This piece is an “easier than it sounds” audience pleaser and is sure to be loved by those students in your studio who love to play fast! (Email me if you have Level 3 students who don’t love to play fast…I’d be curious what it is like to have those students!) It is a level 3 Hal Leonard sheet music solo consisting of only quarter notes, half notes, and dotted halves. It is fast paced with a tarantella feel and features a hand over hand arpeggio at the end that can be completed with flare by your flashy students! Here are some reviews by Various Teachers, Susan, and Natalie.

For those of you who have asked, my Easy Hymn Solos books came out just 2 weeks after the deadline for submissions for the new Federated list. :( So, we’ll have to wait a few years to see if they are included in the Hymn Playing section of the Federated list.

Prima Music is featuring every selection in the piano section of the NFMC Bulletin at 20% off until May 15th.

New Book: Returning to the Piano

Wendy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:00:49 +0000

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, flok songs, and some original pieces as well. Among the familiar titles are:

Hal Leonard Rotating Showcase

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!

A Little Clue…

Wendy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:20 +0000

Did you see what was on page 1 of this month’s American Music Teacher? It’s a bit of a clue as to what’s kept me busy for the last year. I can’t wait to tell you about it in full!

Coming soon…!

40-50% off New Schirmer Performance Editions

Wendy — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:00:16 +0000

If you have not seen the new Schirmer Performance Editions that have been updated by Hal Leonard, I would encourage you to take a look at these. The editions are on a light tan colored paper making them easy on the eyes. Each new edition contains important historical notes about the piece and each piece has been carefully edited to be consistent with the historical style of the piece. The new editions come with CDs which contain beautiful performances of the pieces.

Do not confuse these with the old Schirmer editions which seemed to contain questionable editorial marks. These are excellent editions that any teacher and student will want to have in their library.

Prima Music is having a sale on Schirmer Performance Editions and you can get from 40-50% off the list price. The sale is from now until April 1st.