Portraits 2: Keyboard/Piano Book

Name: Portraits 2: Keyboard/Piano Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 07-1046
Price: 7.95 USD
Availability: InStock

By Noah Baerman

Item: 07-1046

$7.95

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The Portraits series fills one of the longtime gaps in student-level piano repertoire by presenting colorful, fun-to-play pieces in jazz, blues, rock and other popular styles. Portraits invites you on a guided tour through the music of various artists in these styles, exploring what gives each artist his or her own special sound, while the progressively arranged original pieces allow you to try out these styles on your own. Each piece is accompanied by a biography and photo of the artist who inspired it, listening suggestions and specially tailored preparatory exercises. While the Portraits books are recommended for students age 12 and older, younger musicians will certainly enjoy playing the pieces under the guidance of a teacher. The Portraits series is designed to complement all popular piano methods, including adult methods.

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Publisher: Workshop Arts

ISBN10: 1-929395-45-0

ISBN13: 978-1-929395-45-3

UPC: 630746710460

SKU: 07-1046

More about this title

About the Author: Noah Baerman

Noah Baerman has built his reputation on creating piano repertoire that speaks directly to student musicians and their teachers. His work bridges the divide between method book exercises and genuine musicianship by grounding every piece in real artistic voices and recognizable styles.

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Why we love this

Baerman cuts through the usual suspects in student piano repertoire and gives you pieces students actually want to play. The pairing of each composition with artist biography and listening suggestions transforms isolated technical work into cultural exploration, and recorded accompaniments mean your students get the full ensemble sound even in solo practice.

What to expect

Each piece opens a window into a specific artist's sound world. You'll find yourself listening for what makes a blues line sound bluesy, what rhythmic figures define a particular rock era, what harmonic colors appear in jazz voicings. The music teaches you to hear as much as to play.

Who it's for

Students age 12 and up who are ready for something beyond classical etudes but aren't prepared for advanced jazz or rock methods. Teachers working with intermediate pianists who need stylistic variety and cultural context alongside technical growth will find immediate classroom application here.

How to get the most out of it

Study the listening suggestions before tackling the piece. Hearing the artist's original voice first anchors your interpretation and gives the preparatory exercises context.
Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in groove and feel. Jazz, blues, and rock live or die by rhythm, and playing against a professional track trains your internal clock immediately.
Work through the preparatory exercises as written. They isolate exactly what you'll need for the main piece rather than building generic technique.

How to use it

Insert these pieces into spring recitals to show repertoire breadth and student versatility. They also work beautifully as listening and playing assignments in music history units, letting students experience period styles through their own hands rather than passively through speakers.