The Art of Interpreting
Syncopation Exploration - Beginning Years - Opposite Twins - Modes in All Keys - Star Music Suite - Music is Feeling, Not Sound
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Syncopation Exploration
Click here to read our newsletter, written by Forrest’s sister, who shared about Forrest’s creation of these books during his final months of life.
Syncopation Exploration Book One
This series invites you to experience the joy of learning to play syncopated rhythms in a variety of styles. Each Exploration is a short chapter with an enjoyable step-by-step process designed to help you feel the syncopated rhythms in your body. Intermediate and advanced pianists will find they can quickly and confidently master these syncopated pieces using Forrest’s logical, lively approach. Click here for more details and to view a sample page.
Syncopation Exploration Book Two
This book contains eight more unique pieces carefully crafted to continue growing your ability to feel and play syncopated rhythms.
Syncopation Exploration Set
This set contains Syncopation Exploration Book One and Book Two.
Beginning Years
Beginning Years Introduction
Beginning Years
This collection of 32 piano pieces is for teenagers and adults in their beginning five or so years of study. These beginners want to play music that sounds rich and inviting, yet they are limited by their reading ability, undeveloped coordination, and limited practice time. They need pieces with sophisticated sounds that evoke complex feelings, yet are simple enough for them to read, learn, and play.
Though the tones of these pieces are often complex, the notes are simple. Most pieces are pattern-based, so they can be learned and memorized quickly. They often don’t require a lot of coordination, or they help develop it by focusing on one repeating movement with many variations. And these pieces tend to be longer than most, so students can immerse themselves in the experience of playing. This kind of immersion leads to more enjoyment and much quicker progress at the piano.
Listen to audio samples for Beginning Years
Opposite Twins
Opposite Twins - Book 1 (A Primer on the Art of Interpreting)
This book is for students who have been reading music for a while and are ready to explore the art of interpreting. With this approach, students play the same piece in opposite ways to explore music “from the inside” and be directed by quite different feelings. Short poems and vivid images readily evoke contrasting moods, making this introduction to interpretation both enjoyable and easily accessible.
Forrest’s intro and demo of Modes 1 and 2, Star Suite, and Music is Feeling, Not Sound.
Modes in All Keys
Each book includes 11 pieces in the various modes in a different key.
Modes Book 1 (White Keys)
This is a collection of 11 pieces featuring modes on white keys. You can watch videos showing two of the pieces found in Modes Book 1: Born of Silence The Basis
Modes Book 2 (One Sharp)
This set includes 11 pieces in the various modes that have one sharp (F-sharp) in the key signature.
Star Music Suite
Star Music Suite
This Suite consists of five relatively short pieces for solo piano. All these pieces were conceived at night, and they feel most at home when played in the dark. These pieces are for experienced pianists.
Music is Feeling, Not Sound
Music is Feeling, Not Sound -
Seven solo piano pieces that evoke strong feelings.