musician, composer, musical advisor

Hand over Hand

(1986-1988)

I wrote this collection of simple piano pieces in ascending level of difficulty together with jazz pianist Bert van den Brink while I was still giving lessons at a Music School.

I was dissatisfied with existing beginner’s books, which were focused on children rather than adult beginners. We tried for great versatility and handiness. Everything gets a chance: changes of meter, improvisations, cluster techniques, spatial notation, pieces in classical and modern style. Pupils learn to cover the whole keyboard. Thinking from middle C is avoided as much as possible.

We don’t pretend to have written a beginner’s method but more a collection that serves as a supplement to existing methods. All the pieces selected for this book were extensively tested with young and adult students.

Published by Broekmans & van Poppel.

This is a wonderful book to keep near at hand. A little girl who was having trouble reading notes was able to capture everyone’s attention at recitals. And also: the invitation to improvise: take the left hand of a song and the hand position of the right hand, and make up your own song. I’ve owned it for years! Great book to have at hand.

Read here a review and more reactions of members of the European Piano Teachers Association.

1. Key in 1