The newest addition to Kevin Olson's popular series, My Kind of Music, Book 4 celebrates a myriad of musical topics! Beginning with the graceful celebration of morning, First Light, to the majestic solemnity of Gettysburg, this collection is a must-have for the intermediate level pianist. Other selections include: The Big Easy Blues, On the Wings of Pegasus, Ghostdance, Toccata in Twilight, and Catching Fireflies.
Book 2, for the intermediate piano student, takes jazz expression to an entirely new level! This new collection of original jazz solos by Kevin Olson and Edwin McLean incorporates a wide range of expression. From the relaxed and easy-going Swingin It, to the Latin-flavored En Calle Ocho, to the driving originality of Whazzitooyah?, your students will relish playing in the key of jazz.
My Kind of Music, Book 3 is a collection of nine unique solos for the intermediate level student. Evocative of a Middle Eastern marketplace, the modal melody of On the Streets of Cairo is challenging fun with accidentals, while Sneaking Around is great fun with suspenseful staccatos! Other pieces such as Monument Valley, Lazy Afternoon, and Bad Way to Start the Day will certainly resonate with your students as they say Hey! That's my kind of m...
This brand new collection of early intermediate original jazz solos by Kevin Olson and Edwin McLean is sure to open the door for students to discover a new avenue of self-expression and originality! Through these creative new pieces students are encouraged to explore the variety of styles within the jazz idiom and experiment with their own unique improvisatory ideas!
My Kind of Music, Book 1 contains 10 imaginative early elementary to elementary original solos. Each of the solos is an expression of the unique idea stated at the beginning of the piece. These short explanations offer students quick points to focus on in order to creatively interpret the piece. Pieces such as Making Faces, " "Spider vs. Fly, " and "Tiger Tracks" are just a few of the descriptive titles to become favorites for your elementary ...
Book 2, written for the elementary to late elementary level student, contains 9 descriptive solos containing a brief thought or point written under the title to guide interpretation. Students will have fun playing these descriptive pieces and making them their own as they declare Hey! That's my kind of music!
Concerto Bravo is a late-intermediate piece that students will love to tackle. Imaginative and invigorating, this piece challenges students to step up to the plate, play their best, and put what they've learned in lessons to practice in this creative addition to late intermediate repertoire.
Book Five in this series is designed for the intermediate level student. Each unit is divided into four parts: Tools of the Trade, Let's Explore, Scanning the Score, Compose Your Own. Some of the unit topics included: compound meters, transposition, altered chords, modulation, extended forms, and experimenting with rhythm. As with the previous books in this series, the goal is to unlock the student's creative potential and imagination.
Music by Me, Book 4 contains six units designed for the early intermediate student. In this book, the topics covered include: syncopation, melodic non-chord tones, harmonic chord progressions, exercises in setting lyrics to music, 12-bar blues, and a discovery of modes.
Book 2 expands upon the concepts from Book 1 that teach improvisational techniques. Some of the techniques covered in Book 2 are: utilizing intervals of a second, third, fourth, and fifth, pentascales, and black key pieces. This book also includes recordings.
A collection of expressive solos designed to give students a creative opportunity to experience freedom and exploration through the art of improvisation. Each solo is provided with beginning instructions to direct the student in their improvisation in the section to follow. Each piece concludes with a short written-out ending in the student part, and comes with a teacher accompaniment, as well as recordings with practice and performance tracks.
In his travels across the United States, composer Kevin Olson has been particularly struck by two things: the rich diversity in culture, and the amazing variety of natural beauty in the different regions of the country. In River Rhythms, Olson has combined both elements, portraying musical styles of these areas that are reflected in the rivers that run through each of them. Includes: Shadows in Salt Creek (Chicago), Hudson River Echoes (New Yo...
This third book continues the discovery of the tools used in composition. New concepts covered include: new rhythms (upbeats and downbeats), melody sequencing, harmonizing, theme and variations, and modern scales.
This second Music by Me continues to play out the creative joy of the first. Book Two has the seven familiar units (rhythm, melody, harmony, bass patterns, musical form, modern music, and review), each divided into four: Tool of the Trade, Let's Explore, Improvise!, and Compose Your Own. Humorous and light touches abound, such as Breakfast Food Rhythms, " and "The Three Bears Improv, " plus clearer references such as "Dominant Detective" and "...
Introduce students to the joy of composing their own music in this first workbook in a new series. Contains seven lesson units (rhythm, melody, harmony, repetition, form, modern music, and review), each divided into four parts: Tool of the Trade (elements of composition), Let's Explore (fun activity to use the tool), Improvise! (experimentation), and Compose Your Own (inspiring start-offs). Enjoy watching the creative spark ignite, as your stu...
This imaginative collection contains four pieces depicting various forms of flight. The pieces are different in style, ranging from the delicate impressionistic sounds of Butterfly Dances to the heart-pumping intensity of Airshow Acrobatics, which features rapid repeated notes.
Kevin Olson presents another outstanding collection of musical gems teachers and students will truly appreciate. Contents include: Tick-Toccatina, Autumn Ballard, Ice Dancing, Stargazing, Melted Ice Cream Blues, At a Paris Café, Sunset at the Beach, and Spanish Serenade.
The Best of Kevin Olson, Book 1, is an exceptional collection of student favorites from this prolific and popular composer. Contents include: A Dinosaur in My Backyard, Scary Larry, Rolling Peas, The Hermit Crab Cha-Cha, Somethin' Spicy, Island Song, The Secret Agent, Nocturne, and Elephant Stomp.
This tremendous piece for your auditions and performance is dramatic yet quite playable. This highly effective composition exhibits a wonderful balance between energetic, rhythmic movements and serene, lyrical sections.
