![\"Repertorio](\"https:\/\/megustaelpiano.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/repertorio-para-piano-robert-vandall-V-217x300.jpg\")
I have been meaning to write down a post about the American composer Robert D. Vandall for a while. He has composed more than 400 pieces for piano, specially aimed for the first few years of piano learning. Today, 9th of February 2018 is his death anniversary, so this article will serve as a small tribute.<\/p>\n
His pieces have a clear pedagogical side, very adaptable to the pupils\u2019 hands with easy to understand musical elements. His pieces have a big variety of rhythms, time signatures and styles, using a big portion of the keyboard register. All his pieces are based in easy to recognize patterns. This allows to develops different activities in the class, such as improvisation based in said patterns, transposition or analysis. Also this allows his pieces to be taught either by rote or by reading.<\/p>\n
Following, there is a list of the Vandall\u2019s pieces books that I use the most in my lessons:<\/p>\n
The 24 Preludes in all major and minor keys<\/em> are a clear example of his style. They are pieces developed from a single pattern, easily understandable. However, the patterns his pieces are based on, are very different whether between. This makes this book perfect to practice all the major and minor keys in a very simple way. It is also a perfect collection to use for the 40 Piece Challenge. Preludes<\/em> can be purchased as a solo book that includes the 24 preludes, or in three different volumes. I have the complete 24 Preludes<\/em> edition, but I can make my pupils just to buy the first volume, containing the first 7 preludes. Here there is an example of the C major Prelude that opens the series, based exclusively in root position arpegios.<\/p>\n