Taking a practical and common-sense approach, the Contemporary Theory Workbooks provide students with an overview of many aspects of music theory, revealing many musical mysteries which traditional theory books have neglected in the past. The information presented allows the student to venture into popular, jazz and contemporary idioms as well as providing a solid foundation in the music of the western classical tradition. The page-per-lesson format encourages the student to see the whole picture (gestalt) of each topic, thereby reducing the time taken to learn the information. Margaret Brandman is a leading Australian music educator and composer whose career spans over 30 years. Maintaining a position at the cutting edge of music education, Margaret has consistently pioneered new methods which have proven to be successful and enduring. With over 75 books and compositions published and available in Australia, England, Europe and North America, much of her time is spent composing, lecturing, performing and speaking on music in education both in Australia and abroad.

Included in this book are 12 original Blues and Boogie-Woogie pieces for piano, composed by pianist Margaret Brandman. Each piece provides a good basis for learning contemporary playing techniques, including as they do, the Twelve-Bar Blues form, the Blues Scale notes, Swing Timing and a variety of Boogie-Woogie styles. Graded into two sections, for beginners and for intermediate level pianists, each section contains one blues piece, three boogie pieces in major keys and two in minor keys. Various methods of writing the swing feel have been employed for experience in the style. They are especially good for building up left-hand technique, are easily accessible as they require no awkward hand position changes and above all are fun to play. 'Margaret Brandman's publication, gives students a wonderful choice of twelve original blues and boogie-woogie compositions. Also included is a brief history and analysis to give students a background of these styles... This is an excellent publication which, I am sure, teachers and students will enjoy.' -June Mclean, AUSTRALIAN MUSIC TEACHER Magazine, Vol 3 No 5 1994

This book of gently graded teaching pieces for piano is designed to provide extra repertoire, technique and reading practice and for students using Margaret Brandman's Contemporary Piano Method Books 1A and 1B. Covering a variety of styles from folk tunes to classical pieces and blues, these pieces can be quickly and easily learned using Margaret's simplified interval reading system which also includes transposition. Dexter the Koala features in the illustration for each piece. Margaret Brandman is a leading Australian music educator and composer whose career spans over 40 years. Maintaining a position at the cutting edge of music education, Margaret has consistently pioneered new methods which have proven to be successful and enduring. With over 75 books and compositions published and available in Australia, England, Europe and North America, much of her time is spent composing, lecturing, performing and speaking on music in education both in Australia and abroad.