WunderKeys Intermediate Pop Studies For Piano 1: A Pop-Infused Lesson Companion To Reinforce Scales, Chords, Triads, And Left-Hand Patterns

Brilliant book. I use it with my students who don’t want to learn classically or do exams. It still gives theory and keeps up reading music but gives patterns and skills for playing off chord sheets. I tend to get them to do the exercises and then think what particular patterns they like a then play them over a 4 chord sequence. It’s super helpful to guide them into exploring and discovering their own style of playing. The pieces based on scale studies are so beautiful and they feel like they’re playing super impressive pieces of music that are really quite simple to pick up because they’re so familiar with the scales already.

El contingut està molt ben estructurat: cada unitat presenta una tonalitat, els acords bàsics de la mateixa, exercicis tècnics per poder tocar l'escala, un petita peça escrita de sonoritat moderna, en la mateixa tonalitat, exercicis amb acords i patrons d'acompanyament amb notació convencional i també amb xifrat americà, lectura a vista, exercicis rítmics de percussió corporal amb acompanyament de piano i propostes per improvisar melodies sobre un acompanyament donat.És un enfoc molt innovedor i estimulant, especialment per a adolescents o persones que volen aprendre a tocar el piano però que no els agrada el repertori "clàssic".

I ordered five copies of this book initially to trial it in my studio, and it's been going so well that I've ordered more! It's been great for the students who resist technical work. These, ahem, lazy students particularly like the half-page chord-pattern pieces, and once they've done those, they're well prepared for the one- and two-pagers, which they seem to find less daunting. I really love how useful it is for theory concepts as well. Having a bunch of related keys in one place is super helpful, and knowing my students can look up a key signature or scale fingering easily at home is reassuring for me! I teach most of my students the Duvernoy Op.176 studies, as they cover keys up to two sharps and flats, as well as using standard chord progressions. Intermediate Pop Studies is pretty much the modern-day Duvernoy. It's got all the educational value of learning about keys and patterns in music, but with the aural appeal of today's pop music. My students and I are very much looking forward to the release of book 2!

I like how the book introduces lead sheet and improv in a very manageable manner even for younger students. It also break down each unit into the scale required to master.

The WunderKeys books are really wonderful, and I especially like these pop studies books. They are filled with useful technical exercises and information, paired with enticing pieces that are especially fun for teens and adults. A modern take, based on a solid foundation. Colourful, beautifully designed, and my students and I love them!