Teaching Little Fingers to Play Hymns: a Hymn Book for the Earliest Beginner - Sound Recording Review

through Mary K. Sallee. The Willis Music Company (PO chest 548, Florence, KY 41022), 2003 23 pp $1490

John Thompson's Teaching Little Fingers to Play has been a standard mode book for piano teachers since 1936 above the years, the supplementary materials have grown and the packaging has changed, on the other hand the essential pedagogic value has not. In Teaching Little Fingers to Play spiritual songs Mary K. Sallee has carried upon the tradition admirably. In addition to adhering to the past, she has embraced the not away adding an accompanimental CD with MIDI files. There are sum of two units tracks per arrangement, with sum of two units contrasting tempi.

Each arrangement encompasses sum of two units pages--the left-hand page contains fresh concepts, optional teacher accompaniments and hand position diagrams, the pair on a partial keyboard and upon either treble, bass or the grand staff; the right-hand page contains solely the student's spiritual song arrangement. All student texts are published upon the grand staff, although the scholar is not asked to play outside given five-finger positions. Fingerings are limited to starting positions and position shifts. There are solitary three tunes requiring the learner to move positions. Each position is diagrammed, and the first fresh finger number is circled upon the staff.

Other than phrase indications, there are no articulation markings. Dynamics are indicated by dint of the words "loud" and "soft" conceptions covered include rhythmic values (the dotted half note, eighth notes and ties), pitch alterations (sharps, flats and naturals) and lock opener signatures (G and F major). There are no pictures and no color, on the other hand the arrangements are probably challenging enough to grasp student interest. One positive item is that "all the periodical emphasiss are simple yet "correct;" they conform to the greatest in quantity Familiar versions of the devotional songs There would be no confusion between what pupils are used to hearing and what they are being asked to play. This is a public frustration with early hymn arrangements, contributing to many tear-filled exercise s Sallee's arrangements are simple, singable and make it easy to teach adherence to the printed page. Overall, this is a fine, usable, pedagogically entire volume.

Carolyn genuine San Antonio, Texas.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.

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