The Pyramids Variations - Paperback

by R. a. Chappell (Author)

Musicarta's Pyramids Variations teaches an easy hand position for playing chords at the keyboard, and progresses through an eight-stage build-up to an impressive Concert Performance. Along the way you learn the basics of music theory, while a free download of audio-visual learning support material (requires Internet access) ensures that everyone keeps up, regardless of music-reading ability. The second half of the book teaches a set of variations which explore the musical potential of the Pyramids chord sequence. Playing these variations gives the pupil hands-on experience of what the improvising musician actually does, as well as insight into the theory which underpins the improviser's creative freedom. This Pyramids Variations volume, together with the Musicarta website and the Mister Musicarta YouTube channel, offers methodical support for your creative journey. Teachers can use it as a supplement to exam-syllabus lessons, while self-directing pianists of all ages and stages will find in it a fast-track to performances beyond their expectations and a gentle, step-by-step introduction to creative keyboard work. Note that the CreateSpace/Amazon print version of the Pyramids Variations does not include the audio and MIDI files for all the examples in the workbook. These files (which ship with the digital download version) are available as an optional extra from Musicarta at a cost of $4.95.

Author Biography

Musicarta Publications and the musicarta.com website are committed to helping keyboard players of all ages and stages develop their creative keyboard skills. Musicarta's home study courses are available both as CreateSpace/Amazon print-only volumes and as digital downloads from the Musicarta website with accompanying audio and MIDI files for the musical examples in the workbooks. All project have ample content-rich sampler pages on site so you can choose the course which best suits you. The Pyramids Variations, Musicarta's introduction to keyboard creativity, shows you how to play a chord sequence and develop a basic keyboard pattern into an endless variety of pieces. The Canon Project uses the same combination of text, illustrations and audio-visual learning support material to teach you to improvise on this timeless and much-loved chord sequence - itself the basis for numerous popular music hits. Musicarta Key Chords Vol.1 is a fast-track approach to learning popular music harmony, teaching the four chords you're most likely to find together in music in attractive rhythmic keyboard riffs. Browse the Courses tabs on the main site navbar for overviews of all the Musicarta keyboard creativity boosters - and check out the Repertoire tabs for our range of beautiful easy-to-moderate piano solos too. The digital study downloads consist of an illustration-rich PDF file with audio and MIDI files for all the musical examples, a Windows OS desktop 'virtual keyboard' MIDI file player, and either include teaching videos or access to restricted videos online. Musicarta's structured, progressive projects offer an ideal 'creative' supplement to traditional exam-syllabus piano lessons, and Musicarta's media-rich learning material means anyone can make good progress without being able to read music particularly well. The 'Mister Musicarta' YouTube channel hosts project videos which keep these projects alive with 'diary entry' ideas to inspire your continuing explorations. The Musicarta YouTube channel also showcases the Musicarta 'Solos' volume. Musicarta on YouTube offers an ever-increasing number of music theory video lessons, while the www.musicarta.com website has nearly 200 pages dedicated to de-mystifying music theory, making your practising more effective and putting pop music keyboard styles at your fingertips. Visit the site today, and let Musicarta become your creative keyboard companion!