She prefaces each new piece of her two-volume Piano Time Sports with clever little warm-ups and work-outs, the sort of thing we teachers so often need to invent on the spot to solve a technical problem. For GBP5.50, Ms Hall certainly shows various ways to do it - and the music that benefits from the preliminary work is witty, slightly wacky, attractive, well varied, and probably very secure, if the pupil has done the exercises properly! * John York Piano November 2003 *
This says a lot for the distinctive presentation: zany cartoons of an assortment of cats, dogs, and children taking part in every sort of exercise you can imagine discreetly adorn every page. Fun, yes, but also supporting, not obscuring the central purpose of the book, which is to provide a variety of warm-ups and exercises to develop piano technique . . . The musical language is very accessible, often using the rhythms and harmonies so universally deployed now in crossover books for pianists . . Book 1 is for beginners through to post Grade 1 and, as long as you are comfortable with this easy-going musical style, is highly recommended. * Pamela Lidiard, Piano Professional (EPTA) September 03 *
Sections are short and manageable, with plenty of repetition and clear instructions on how each is to be played. * Music Teacher July 2003 *
