Featured video below is the Nebraska Wind Symphony performing a transcription and orchestration I did for retired Coast Guard Commander Mark Ashley. After thirty years of humming the themes his composition, it is now being heard by many.
I have recently started a bog entitled Musings at Nouvelle Music Publishing, LLC to discuss some aspects of my approach to piano teaching. I hope it offers some inspiration for others to add to their approach to teaching.
My recording “Carefree Latin Memories” was featured in the pilot episode of “So Help Me Todd” in 2022 which airs on CBS. The Muzak recording can be heard about 7-8 minutes into the show when Todd is with his mother at her condo calling American Express. The recording is the on hold music heard from Todd’s cell phone. Check it out if you have the Paramount + streaming service.
My recording "Cool School" for jazz piano trio appeared on the CW network show "All American" Season 5, Episode 4 on Nov. 7th, 2022. The music can be heard about 20 minutes into the show at a cigar lounge. On Nov. 8th it will be viewable on the CW Network website.
The following is a demo recording of a new book of piano solos I have released with Nouvelle Music Publishing, LLC.
Vignettes for Solo Piano is a collection of 21 short intermediate to late intermediate interval studies composed to reinforce recognition of intervals ranging from a second to an octave. An interval may be introduced in a tonal/modal setting followed by a chromatic one. As the pianist progresses through the book, the studies will combine odd intervals together and even intervals together as well. The book concludes with several solos combining all intervals featured.
The vignettes may be of interest to those who have trouble distinguishing intervals visually or are interested in the sounds of jazz as numerous vignettes require swing rhythm and syncopation. Piano teachers should appreciate detailed fingering and pedaling that will guide the performer throughout the 47 pages. The book is bound with a plastic coil binding so that the book lays open flat on the piano.
Sample pages of the book can be seen and the book can be purchased at JW Pepper Music. See Nouvelle Music Tab above for a direct link to JW Pepper page. The book is found under Intermediate and Late Intermediate Level under Piano Music Tab.
I was fortunate enough to have a reading by the Kansas City Winds Symphony of a new orchestrated arrangement I created for retired commander Mark Ashley of the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Day March represents themes and counter themes Mark has heard in his head for decades in which he will now be able to share with others. The march may one day possibly be performed by the United States Coast Guard Band. Below is a recording from the reading session. The World Premiere will be May 1st, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Kansas City Winds Symphony Concerts are held at Village Presbyterian Church 6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
2023 Update:
The Nebraska Wind Symphony performed the march during their summer concert in Ralston (a suburb of Omaha) Nebraska in early July of this year. The march was also featured in the recent summer issue of the quarterly magazine The Long Blue Line on page 13. On August 10, the Marshall Municipal Band performed the march during the opening ceremonies at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Later it was performed that same evening on the grounds of the county courthouse in Marshall Missouri during their final outdoor concert of the season.
I had the opportunity to work with Melissa Hickman on the final mix of her new single released today Merry Christmas Kansas City. It is part of her music Destiny which I had a bigger part in that hopefully will premiere in 2022. See video below to hear and see sights of KC.