Practicing the Piano

Nancy O'Neill Breth

ISBN 10: 142348942X / ISBN 13: 9781423489429

Published by Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, 2012

About this Item

(Educational Piano Library). In Practicing the Piano , Nancy O'Neill Breth offers a broad selection of practice tips with musical examples to help students of all ages find imaginative solutions to pianistic problems. The book explores how to: organize practice time; map music before practicing to uncover the musical terrain that lies ahead; use practice time effectively from the first reading through performance; develop fluency with accuracy; polish and memorize a piece; and lay the foundation for confident performance. Practicing the Piano is a handbook of practice techniques. Teachers can use it to reinforce and augment their own ideas on practicing. Parents will find a wealth of ideas for guiding their children's practice sessions. Students young and old will discover how to make each practice session count. Using the book's wide range of practice tips not only improves a pianist's skills, but also adds adventure and enjoyment to the process of mastering a piece. Piano/Keyboard Methods/Series Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781423489429

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Practicing the Piano
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 142348942X
• ISBN 13: 9781423489429
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Post-Bop Jazz Piano by jazz pianist and educator John Valerio is a focused instructional guide designed for intermediate players ready to move beyond basics and explore the language of modern jazz. Centered on post-bop and hard bop styles, this piano method helps developing musicians build fluency in comping, soloing, and harmonic interpretation while connecting theory directly to real playing situations on the keyboard.

Created for pianists seeking structured growth, the book presents essential concepts used by influential jazz artists in a clear, practical format suitable for self-study or guided learning in lessons. The included online audio-accessible via a unique code-features demonstrations performed both solo and with full band arrangements, helping you hear phrasing, timing, articulation, and stylistic nuance in context. The integrated PLAYBACK+ system allows tempo adjustment, looping, key changes, and stereo control for more efficient, flexible, and personalized practice sessions.

Through its clear exploration of voicings, scales, modality, and stylistic influences, the book strengthens both technical command and musical intuition. Pianists gain insight into the harmonic vocabulary and rhythmic feel that define post-bop, while building confidence in improvisation, accompaniment, and modern jazz expression. The material encourages deeper listening, stronger phrasing, and a more expressive connection to the keyboard over time.

Song List
Left-Hand Voicings * Voicings for Two Hands * Scales and Tonality * Modality * Bill Evans * Herbie Hancock * McCoy Tyner * Chick Corea * Keith Jarrett * Lead Sheets

Whether used for structured practice, performance preparation, lesson support, or as a thoughtful gift for a developing jazz musician, this guide offers a well-rounded path into a sophisticated and expressive piano style within contemporary jazz performance.