Play Today Instructional Series Series

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A Complete Guide to the Basics

The Ultimate Self-Teaching Series!

We've heard the complaint a million times: 'I wish I would've learned to play guitar...piano...saxophone...' Well, it's time to do something about it. The revolutionary Play Today! Series from Hal Leonard will get you, no matter what age you are, doing what you've always wanted to do: make music. Best of all, with these book/audio packs, you can listen and learn at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home! You'll be amazed at what you can 'teach yourself'!

This method can be used by students on their own or by teachers for private or group instruction. Each pack is a complete guide to the basics, designed to offer quality instruction, terrific songs, and professional-quality audio with tons of full-demo tracks and audio instruction. Students can learn at their own pace and open the door to the world of making music. Each book includes over 70 great songs and examples!

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Joseph M. Martin | Hal Leonard Joseph M. Martin Joseph Martin (b. 1959 ), a native of North Carolina, earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Subsequently he earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Texas, Austin. Joseph taught for five years in the Piano Pedagogy Department of the University of Texas. His piano teachers include Jimmy Woodle, David Gibson, Amanda Vick Lethco, Martha Hilley and Danielle Martin. While at Furman University, he was accompanist for choral director and composer Milburn Price and, inspired by his teaching, Martin began to compose. He is a member of the staff of Shawnee Press as Director of Sacred Publications, with responsibilities for overseeing the editorial and creative direction of the company’s sacred publications and also coordinating the recording and production aspects of future sacred publishing efforts. Joseph has performed solo piano recitals and has been the featured artist with symphony orchestras in the United States and Mexico. As winner of the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, he performed with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His solo recital in Ex-convento del Carmen was broadcast nationally throughout the country. Though he continues to perform in concert, he now devotes his efforts to playing in churches and for conferences of church musicians His first solo piano recording, American Tapestry, was nominated for a Dove Award. This album, along with his other recordings (Songs of the Journey, Celtic Tapestry, and A Christmas Tapestry) has been enormously popular in the sacred and secular markets. He has recorded for Yamaha's Disklavier series and has composed hundreds of commissioned works. Recognized throughout the United States for his many choral compositions, over 1200 compositions are currently in print and the list continues to grow. His composition ""Pieta"" was recently honored with an award from the John Ness Beck Foundation. In 2008 he was inducted as a National Patron of the Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity. Along with Mark Hayes and David Angerman, Joseph has co-authored a fully graded, progressive piano method for the Christian student called Keys for the Kingdom. His major works include nearly 40 choral cantatas and extended works and Song of Wisdom, a choral tone poem based on the best-selling children's book, Old Turtle. His music can be heard in such diverse locations as Carnegie Hall in New York City; the Lawrence Welk Theatre in Branson, Missouri; and in hundreds of worship services in churches across the United States and Canada. In addition, his works have been performed in cathedrals in Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland and Austria. Joseph lives in Austin, Texas with his children Jonathan and Aubrey and his wife Sue. Publications by Joseph M. Martin

Stacey Nordmeyer | Hal Leonard Stacey Nordmeyer Stacey Nordmeyer began her career in music publishing as a choral editor and was an editor for the textbook series Experiencing Choral Music, as well as for numerous sight-singing methods, along with music for school, church and community choirs. Now, as General Manager, Choral Publications, she oversees the choral publication process for both Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press. She is also a celebrated composer and arranger, with anthems published in both the Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press church catalogs. She has been active in church music for over 35 years, having served as music director, worship leader, and accompanist at various churches throughout southeastern Wisconsin. She currently directs the praise bands and the adult handbell choir at UNITY Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Stacey holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in piano and music theory from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and she is a member of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble. Publications by Stacey Nordmeyer

Chuck Marohnic | Hal Leonard Chuck Marohnic Chuck Marohnic has enjoyed a multi-faceted career. Starting four decades ago as a jazz pianist, today he is a respected musician, educator, author, composer and arranger. For 13 years, Chuck had the privilege of serving as Music Director in numerous churches including United Methodist, Roman Catholic and United Churches of Christ. He also has been a frequent guest performer and clinician at many Lutheran, Presbyterian and other churches, including serving for over five years as Director of Music for the well known Studio worship service at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ. He currently serves as Associate Director of Music for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, Louisville, KY. Chuck has recorded 35 albums and CDs. Downbeat Magazine awarded his performances 4 stars. Early in his career, Chuck worked as a sideman with Ira Sullivan, Joe Henderson, Jamey Aebersold, Buddy Rich, Chet Baker and many others. He has served as a visiting clinician and performer at festivals in Germany, Brazil and France. For five years he acted as Coordinator of Jazz Studies and a guest artist at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Fairbanks, Alaska. In May of 1998, Having retired in 2003, Chuck was the Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University since 1981. His former students include John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood; Scott Henderson of Tribal Tech; Phil Strange, formerly with Joe Henderson; German pianist Klaus Ignatzek; Tim Ray, pianist for Lyle Lovett; and Joey Sellers, now a prominent educator/arranger living in S. California. Chuck has written four jazz publications. In addition, Chuck has written jazz piano arrangements of familiar church hymns and worship and praise songs, taking them from inside church walls to the entire community. What started as a sabbatical leave project from his position as Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University, turned into a book entitled Sanctuary Jazz, (July 1998, Shawnee Press). Joseph Martin, acclaimed pianist and keyboard editor for Shawnee Press says, ""Chuck is one of the best writers in the country today."" Since this first book was published, Chuck has written eight collections of piano arrangements and three collections of brass quintet music. Publications by Chuck Marohnic