Pianists and composers alike will love this resource, which presents ten settings of the classic Irish folk song “Molly Malone”. The progressive nature of each arrangement insures there is a performance piece for various skill levels, starting with early intermediate.
Each arrangement also contains a one page explanation of the theory and thought process behind the techniques introduced in the arrangement.
Dr. Nicole Doran –
It delivers on the promise to enlarge a student’s appreciation for what can be done with the beautiful melody as you develop piano skills. A great time to look at this process is during the summer before you might want to try arranging Christmas Carols with lead sheets.Better than a simple “theme and variations”, you have the answer key right here that reveals how he is adding inversions, new harmonies, enriching chords, using pedals and different ranges to keep embellishing the melody. His theoretical language is simple and direct, for a student who might be struggling with how to use neighbor tones or why there are clashing sounds at times: “Dissonance and consonance are frequently used to mean ‘ugly’ and ‘pretty’. The terms are closer in meaning to ‘requiring motion’ and ‘at rest’. This reveals what great musicians know: dissonance can be extremely beautiful, but it requires motion for the full effect. The terms are also matters of degree, and not fixed.” You will certainly take your playing and theory to a new degree if you begin playing these lead sheets after you have studied triads on the keyboard, and are an early intermediate player. Playing through them is a lovely experience not to be missed!
Beth Keller (verified owner) –
The value in this collection is incredible! As an educator, I can use this resource over a 10-20 week period in a private or group lesson setting. Digging deeper into harmonies and the understanding behind them is often missing in today’s pedagogical offerings. PJ Rasmussen puts heart and detail into his reflection and analysis of each arrangement.
Adriana –
Amazing arrangements for learning new skills as well as the musical theory behind each. The journey though the book is executed in a way to help the learner easily digest what each level is about. PJ puts in a lot of amazing detail into all the chords, inversions, and harmonies for each piece. He has prepared an excellent book for anyone wanting to improve their skills technically over a small period of time!! What great work!!!
Simon Petty –
I wish I had this when I was studying my first lead sheet! PJ does a great job introducing different harmonic concepts in an easy step by step process. This would be a great tool for arranging students or classically trained musicians wanting to explore lead sheets!
Phillip E. Moore –
PJ Rasmussen’s “Molly Malone: Ten Progressive Arrangements of an Irish Melody”
This tutorial achieves its objective in an attractive and practical package.
The work offers a progressive and much-needed approach to the subject. As such, it provides models for the harmony and composition student seeking “solutions” to the myriad possibilities available.
The study is not for the beginner. It does require a fundamental knowledge of music theory and harmony in order to absorb the concepts being demonstrated. It is also within the grasp of a student with modest keyboard skills.
Advantageously, it does not overwhelm the student. Nor does it overelaborate with excessive detail or esoteric examples just to impress. Moreover, the study progresses gradually with concise illustrations that can be managed and absorbed in bite size pieces.
Using the same material for each lesson is perhaps the strongest and most beneficial aspect of this approach. In addition to reinforcing important concepts, the student simultaneously acquires a sense of development in music composition.
The arrangements and their analyses work hand in hand effectively to meet the study’s main objective.
The “solutions” presented in each illustration are accessible, delightful and inspirational, while the analyses that accompany each level are comprehensible and succinct by design. Together they provide the gradual evolution that is the desired goal.
PJ Rasmussen’s highly accessible approach is unique and begs for more supplemental explorations.