practice

Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Falls Church, VA

John has greatly benefited from a well-rounded curriculum, insightful books, and a variety of practice and time management tools. Combined with consistent, focused practice, these resources have been instrumental in shaping him into the well-rounded musician he is today.

Below is a selection of the resources John has used throughout his journey. We hope you find them just as valuable as you continue on your own musical path.

curricula / Book list

piano

  • Royal Conservatory of Music
  • The National Piano Guild
  • Jonás - Master School of Virtuoso Piano Playing, Vol. 1, 2, 3
  • Peskanov - The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano (all volumes)
  • Roskell - The Complete Pianist -- From Healthy Technique to Natural Artistry

organ

  • Royal Conservatory of Music
  • American Guild of Organists
  • The Organists' Manual: Technical Studies & Selected Compositions for the Organ
  • The New Oxford Organ Method
  • Nilson - A System of Technical Studies in Pedal Playing for the Organ

harpsichord

  • Royal Conservatory of Music
  • Baiano: Method for Harpsichord. A practical guide for Pianists, Organists and Harpsichordists
  • Couperin - L'Art De Toucher Le Clavecin. The Art of Playing the Harpsichord
  • Morris & Fergurson - Preparatory Exercises in Score Reading
  • Graded Keyboard book

Theory / Harmony

  • Piston - Harmony
  • Royal Conservatory of Music
  • ABRSM Grade 8 Theory
  • Heacox - Harmony for Ear, Eye, and Keyboard
  • Rule of Octave

Music analysis

Figured bass / continuo

  • Christensen - 18th Century Continuo Playing A Historical Guide to the Basics
  • Continuo Playing According to Handel: His Figured Bass Exercises
  • Figured Bass for Beginners: A Self-Paced Primer in Playing from a Figured Bass
  • Bach Cantatas
  • Handel Concertos
  • Telemann Concertos

improvisation

  • Overduin - Making Music: Improvisation for Organists
  • Erhardt: Upon a Ground - Improvisation on Ostinato Basses
  • Dupré - Méthode d'orgue
  • Brillhart - A World of Possibilities: Master Lessons in Improvisation
  • IJzerman - Harmony, Counterpoint, Partimento: A New Method Inspired by Old Masters
  • Mortensen - The Pianist's Guide to Historic Improvisation
  • Hymns Improvisation
  • Atwood - Gospel Music Techniques

orchestration

  • Adler - The Study of Orchestration

Listening program

  • Kavanaugh - Music of the Great Composers
  • The Book of 101 Opera Librettos: Complete Original Language Texts with English Translations

biographies

  • Oxford University Press - Heritage of Music (4 volumes)
  • The Milton Cross New Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and Their Music

Practice Templates

Sample Trello Practice Board

Sample Google practice sheet

Tools / Apps

Project Management Tool
Great for composing / orchestration (and easier to maneuver than Sibelius)
ForScore Sheet Music Storage / Reading App
LibraryThing / Catolog Music Books
Adobe Scan App / Uploading Assignments / Compositions
Cleartune / Tuning the Harpsichord
Coil Binding Machine / Used Countless Times for Binding Books
MyEarTraining / Great for Extra Practice
Canva / Designing Book Covers / Concert Invites, Flyers, Programs
SpeakBeat Metronome / Good for Improv