Brazilian Piano by composers and educators Robert Willey and Alfredo Cardim is a piano and keyboard instruction book focused on teaching authentic Brazilian styles including choro, samba, and bossa nova. Designed for intermediate players developing stylistic control, it combines structured exercises with practical musical examples to help pianists move beyond basic technique into confident, style-aware performance.
Created for keyboard players expanding into Latin and Brazilian genres, the book introduces essential rhythmic concepts, groove development, and harmonic vocabulary used in real playing situations. Through progressive examples and guided studies, learners build the foundation needed to interpret and perform Brazilian music with accuracy and musicality.
The book presents standard notation with carefully developed examples that build rhythmic control and harmonic vocabulary step by step. It begins with groove-focused training essential to Brazilian music, then expands into playable pieces and stylistic studies. Included online audio provides demonstration tracks and ensemble recordings, allowing players to practice timing, phrasing, and improvisation. Additional digital content accessed through My Library gives extended versions for deeper play-along experiences.
What makes this collection especially useful is its balance between technical development and musical expression. Players learn how to internalize syncopation, develop comping patterns, and approach improvisation within authentic Brazilian frameworks. The inclusion of ensemble tracks encourages active participation, making practice sessions feel more like real performance settings rather than isolated study.
With artist interviews and background insights, this book adds cultural depth to technical learning, making it suitable for self-study, guided lessons, or expanding a pianist’s stylistic range.