Ear Training and Sight Reading Help

My weakest areas as a piano student were the aural and sight reading tests. One year when I was in high school, I “forgot” my Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests book for two months’ worth of lessons. Elizabeth Mahaffy, my teacher at the time, got so fed up that one day, she sent me home to get the book.

My students don’t get away with that since I’ve kept all my Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. I bring them out for the forgetful students or sometimes, I have them pick out a song by ear and add the chords.

There are a multitude of online resources for students who need extra work in this area. Here are a few of them:

• http://www.musicstudy.com/

• http://www.musictheory.net/

• http://www.practicespot.com/

• http://pianoeducation.org/pnokids.html

If you would like to purchase the Four Star book series, check out my affiliate links below:

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Preparatory A Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S0A. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S0A).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Preparatory B Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S0B. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S0B).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 1 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S01. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S01).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 2 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S02. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S02).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 3 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S03. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S03).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 4 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S04. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S04).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 5 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S05. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S05).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 6 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S06. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S06).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 7 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S07. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S07).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 8 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S08. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S08).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 9 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S09. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S09).

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Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests Level 10 Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Composed by Boris Berlin and Andrew Markow. Edited by Laura Beauchamp-Williamson. This edition: 2015 edition. Sight Reading. Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests. Book. The Frederick Harris Music Company #4S010. Published by The Frederick Harris Music Company (FH.4S010).

Happy practicing!

© 2006, Musespeak™, Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Making Wedding Music Selections Easy

It may seem strange that today’s blog is about wedding music. However, people are known to get engaged over the holidays, when family and friends are together. Next month, bridal fairs will begin another wedding season. Usually, when I meet with a couple, they have no idea what music they would like performed at their ceremony. I normally run through a selection of songs and wait as the couple discusses whether they want happy or sad, fast or slow, bouncy or majestic music. The sole exception was the wedding of a classically trained pianist. She asked for Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as well as other classics. She walked down the aisle to O mio babbino caro by Puccini.

Here are some useful links to help engaged couples choose ceremony and reception music:

• Our Wedding Songs

• Complete Guide to Wedding Music

• The Top 250 Wedding Songs for Each Moment of Your Big Day

September 4, 2020 update: updated a few links.

Christmas Music Recommendations

With Christmas less than a month away, many students rush out to purchase Christmas music. This usually reminds me that it’s time for me to practice for my Christmas gigs. There are wonderful Christmas anthologies available at various playing levels. For the beginning student, I usually recommend Faber & Faber’s supplemental Christmas books, from PreTime Piano (Primer Level) to AdvanceTime Piano (Early Intermediate piano). The books correspond nicely with the Piano Adventures series. For more information, you can visit Faber & Faber’s site:

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PreTime Christmas Primer Level. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 20 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1015. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420124).

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PlayTime Piano Christmas Level 1. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. CD only. Faber Piano Adventures #CD1036. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420101).

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ShowTime Christmas Level 2A. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Includes traditional carols as well as seasonal favorites. Christmas. Softcover. 24 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1037. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420146).

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ChordTime Christmas Level 2B. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Method, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 28 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1005. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420114).

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FunTime Christmas Level 3A-3B. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas favorites arranged for the Level 3A - 3B student, including both traditional and popular songs which students find especially appealing. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 32 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1006. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420115).

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BigTime Christmas Level 4. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Educational. Softcover. 40 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1016. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420125).

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AdvanceTime Christmas Level 5. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. PreTime to BigTime Piano Supplementary Library. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 40 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1124. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420203).

For the intermediate to advanced student, I recommend the Reader’s Digest Merry Christmas Songbook. It is the only Christmas book I bring to gigs with me. It’s in Piano/Vocal/Guitar format, so it can be used in ensembles. The chord symbols are on the score, making it easy to fake the accompaniment if you wish.

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Reader's Digest Piano Library: Christmas Classics 50 Christmas Favorites Arranged for Piano and Voice. Composed by Various. Edited by David Pearl. Music Sales America. Christmas. Softcover with CD. 136 pages. Music Sales #AM993971. Published by Music Sales (HL.14026958).

These books are available at all major music stores or by clicking on my Sheetmusicplus affiliate links above.

© 2005, Musespeak™, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. All rights reserved.