Premier Piano Course, Jazz, Rags & Blues 4: Piano
All New Original Music
By Martha Mier
Level: 4
Item: 00-PB-0000582
$8.99
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Description
Premier Piano Course, Jazz, Rags & Blues 4 includes original pieces that reinforce concepts introduced in Lesson Book 4. Popular composer Martha Mier has composed all new music in a variety of styles, including ragtime, boogie, and jazz. The pieces in the book correlate page by page with the materials in Lesson Book 4. A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.
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Additional Details
Series:
Premier Piano Course
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
32
SKU:
00-PB-0000582
More about this title
About the Composer: Martha Mier
Martha Mier has shaped piano pedagogy for decades as a composer, clinician, and educator whose work appears in hundreds of educational collections. Since partnering with Alfred Music in 1989, she's become known for writing music that speaks directly to students' interests while reinforcing core technique. Her background includes years running a private studio in Florida, adjudicating at major festivals, and leading workshops internationally for organizations like the Music Teachers National Association and World Piano Pedagogy Conference.
Beyond composition, Mier holds national certification through multiple professional organizations and has authored the Premier Piano Course alongside dozens of supplementary materials. Her pieces regularly appear on Federation festival selections, a testament to their musicality and pedagogical value. She brings the perspective of someone who understands what actually works in the practice room and the studio.
Why we love this
Mier avoids the trap of "educational" music that sounds generic or sterile. These pieces genuinely groove, which means students practice longer and care more about performing them well. The page-by-page correlation with Lesson Book 4 means you're reinforcing exactly what students need without adding planning time.
What to expect
The music swings with just enough sophistication to feel grown-up without pretension. Ragtime grooves bounce off the page, blues progressions invite rhythmic flexibility, and jazz voicings open students' ears to harmonies beyond what they've encountered in standard lesson books.
Who it's for
Level 4 pianists who benefit from repertoire that matches their technical abilities while exposing them to idioms beyond the classical tradition. This book works especially well for students drawn to contemporary styles or those preparing for festival competition.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the rhythm section breathe in the ragtime pieces. Resist the urge to hurry; the syncopation lands harder when the tempo is steady and the pulse is clear.
- Explore the recorded accompaniments provided. They're not crutches but models for how the style should swing or bounce, especially valuable for students with limited jazz exposure.
- Pay attention to left-hand pattern work in the boogie selections. These repetitive figures build independence and stamina when practiced deliberately, not thoughtlessly.
How to use it
Weave individual pieces throughout the year as students progress through Lesson Book 4, using them as performance material for studio recitals or informal showcases. A few selections could anchor a "Great American Songbook" concert featuring jazz and blues standards, or serve as the contemporary music component in a mixed-style competition set.
Skills your students will build
- Swing rhythms and syncopation in ragtime and jazz contexts
- Left-hand independence in boogie and blues patterns
- Jazz chord voicings and extension harmony
- Stylistic interpretation across multiple 20th-century American idioms
- Rhythmic flexibility and groove rather than metronomic accuracy