Hand over hand

Hand over hand (1986-1988)

Handen thuis

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.

Read reviews and reactions…

‘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 more reactions of members of the European Piano Teachers Association in response to the news that recordings of all the compositions are posted on this website.

1. Intoetsen I (Key in I) (4 hands)

2. Intoetsen II (Key in II) (4 hands)

3. Boris (4 hands)

4. Wals (Waltz) (4 hands)

5. Volksvermaak I (Entertainment I) (4 hands)

6. Passacaglia I (4 hands)

7. Summer-Night (4 hands)

8. Slow and Blue

9. Passacaglia II

10. Bagatel (Bagatelle)

11. Afstand (Distance)

12. Apart (Clash)

13. Bagatel (Bagatelle)

14. Danse sauvage (Wild mens' dance)

15. Droom (Dream)

16.Mijmering (Musing)

17. Beweging (Movement)

18. Tristesse (Sadness)

19. Drang (Drive)

20. Herfst (Autumn)

21. Kromme vingers (Twisted fingers) (4 hands)

22. Druppels (Drops)

23. Tijdsverschil (Time difference) (4 hands)

24. Pedaal (Pedal)

25. Akkoord (Chord)

26. Luie botten (Lazy bones)

27. Verlangen (Longing)

28. Ruisende oude eiken (Rustling old oaks)

29. Volksvermaak II (Entertainment II)

30. Witte toetsen clusters (White note clusters)

31. Life goes on

32. Sinister

33. Etude (Study)

34. Hommage (Homage) (4 hands)

35. Eindeloze nacht (Endless night)

36. Promenade

37. Lied (Song)

38. De poort naar het pianistendom (The great gate of pianism) (4 hands)

39. Ochtendstudie (Morning practice)

40. Sicilienne

41. Weg van de Klassieken (Beyond the Classics)

42. Klacht (Complaint)

43. Melodisch gedicht (Melodic poem)

44. Linkhandig (Flathanded)

45. Zonder grenzen (Open borders)

46. Chanson triste

47. Ostinaat (Ostinato)

48. Altijd weer anders (Always different)

49. Bezigheidstherapie (Busy work)

50. Bagatel (Bagatelle)

51. Romance

52. Fantasie (Fantasy)

53. Etude (Study)

54. Confrontatie (Confrontation)

55. Impressions de Notre Dame

56. Petit moment musical

57. Idylle (Idyll)

58. De Gouden Plaat (A Golden Record)

59. Burgermans Blues (Bourgeois blues)

60. Hemiola

61. Ochtendstemming (Morning)

62. Pater Koster (Rabbi O'Reilly)

63. Blindeman (Blindman's buff)

64. Abschied (Farewell)