Excursions, Volume 1: Piano Book

Michael Scott's New Age interpretations bridge the gap between classical literacy and contemporary sound worlds. Students encounter beloved masterworks through a fresh harmonic and textural lens, making familiar melodies feel newly discovered. The arrangements preserve the emotional core of each original while introducing pianists to the spacious, resonant aesthetic that defines the genre.

Serene yet contemplative, with moments of quiet wonder. Each arrangement unfolds like a landscape gradually coming into focus, trading the precision of the original scores for a more meditative, unhurried pace. The music invites listeners inward rather than commanding attention.

Intermediate pianists seeking to expand beyond traditional classical and popular repertoire. This collection works especially well for students who respond to impressionistic harmony and want to deepen their understanding of texture and timbre at the keyboard.

• Develop a clear sense of pedal timing. New Age style relies on sustain and harmonic wash, so practice your pedal changes deliberately rather than holding the sustain pedal throughout entire phrases.
• Balance melody against texture. Even as accompaniment figures expand into lush soundscapes, the original tune must remain audible and lyrical.
• Explore rubato thoughtfully. Intermediate pianists often fear disrupting rhythm, but New Age style invites gentle tempo flexibility to let chords breathe and resolve naturally.
• Record yourself and listen for clarity in the lower register. New Age pieces often layer many notes in the left hand; ensure each harmonic voice registers distinctly without muddiness.

Program this collection in a recital segment devoted to contemporary interpretations of classics, or pair individual pieces with their original-form counterparts to invite audiences to hear familiar works through a new lens. The accessible level and introspective quality make these pieces ideal for background music in intimate performance settings or school events focused on wellness and contemplative listening.

• Extended and altered chord voicings common to New Age harmony
• Pedal technique for achieving sustained harmonic color without muddiness
• Balancing sustained accompaniment textures with clear melodic line
• Rhythmic flexibility and rubato within a structured harmonic framework
• Left-hand independence in managing complex harmonic movement