This book contains nine original songs, in this case formatted for mandolin (with a separate staff for voice).  It is appropriate for Advanced Beginner/Early Intermediate level players.

It is the first of my three song books, each initially developed and arranged for use by my students so as to provide interesting and challenging material for them to play.

All songs are of a contemporary nature and were written with an emphasis on tuneful melodies, intelligent yet poignant lyrics, varied and appealing harmonies and a host of different time signatures and related rhythms.  While the overall style of song is contemporary, each has its own unique feel. The songs are set in a range of musical keys and written to encompass a fairly extensive pitch range.

Through the course of the book, the songs progress through different note registers, gradually introduce new key signatures, employ a variety of tempos, incorporate more complex time signatures and rhythms, and develop the melody within each song by adding harmonic material to them.  Technical skills appropriate to the piano are written in to the scores. The material in this (and all of the books) have been uniformly well-received by those who have had an opportunity to work in it.

I have been engaged in a life-long study of songwriting.  Over this time, I have read many books, articles and workbooks on the subject, watched a wide variety of related videos and tutorials and learned to play thousands of highly-regarded songs, drawn from different times in history and from diverse genre.  I have attempted to embed the results of my on-going study into the songs presented here.

Audio Samples

As with the Emergence songbook formatted for each of five instruments, this one comes with two companion CDs, organized to assist in learning to play the songs in the book.   To accomplish this, there are eight separate tracks on the CD for each song.  These tracks include melody only, accompaniment only and melody plus accompaniment.  Three different speeds are present among these tracks, to allow for different levels of mastery by the student. A CD Usage Guide in also included, to help the student get the most out of using the CD.

Each sample that follows is the first track for each song n the companion CD.  This track consists of a shortened version of the song, includes melody plus accompaniment and is performed exclusively on the mandolin.

Note that the speed of the track is at full performance tempo.

Stringing Out The Beads

Carry Me Home

On The Way

Remembrance

It’s Not Over

Time

Resolution

Breezes

God