Jane smisor bastion biography books

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The books are filled with colourful pictures; although beautiful, may end up becoming a distraction to some students.

Popular Pieces

Since most of the repertoire written by the Bastiens fall in the beginner level, they can be used in the RCM Prep A and B exams. The series of books, all published by the Neil A.

Kjos Music Company, are now translated into more than 16 languages. They were showcasing their new publication, “Bastien New Traditions All in One Piano Course”. James Bastien., wrote the best-selling method-book, Bastien Piano Methods, enjoyed by millions of students and teachers worldwide.

New features include an “all-in-one” focus, which means the pieces, theory, technic and performance pieces can be found in one book (students had to previously purchase separate books for each). The Bastien method books continue to be popular with many teachers, and some find great success using them.

Jane Bastien

Jane Smisor Bastien together with her husband.

Together the couple published over 400 publications and Jane continued the work with her two daughters, Lisa and Lori, after James developed an early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Below is a popular piece that students enjoy playing called Tarantella:

When teaching Christmas music to beginners, I like to use James’ Christmas books because of their simplicity, and often chord-like approach to the LH.

Also, the leveling matches the levels in his method books:

Although I no longer use Bastien’s method books as my primary teaching books, I still use a few of his pieces to supplement.

Composer(s) for August…the Bastiens!

Background

One of the first books I was taught from was James Bastien’s series “Bastien Piano Basics”.

James passed away in December 2006, and is survived by his wife, Jane Smisor Bastien, two daughters, Lori and Lisa and 4 grandchildren. As a result, when I first started teaching piano, these were my “go-to” books.

I used Bastien’s Primer A and B books for young beginners, and continued with book 1, 2, 3.

Meanwhile, I used Bastien’s Older Beginner Piano Course for adult beginners:

James Bastien (born 1934) was a piano teacher and educator, and wrote over 300 publications, selling millions of copies.

These books update the “Piano Basics” books written by James. Jane, Lori and Lisa continue to write music and method books and teach. All three are passionate, active piano teachers.

I met Jane, Lori and Lisa at the MTNA conference in March 2017. Evolving through several generations of methodology, their writing culminated with the release of the Bastien Piano Basics, the world's first ever 4-color piano method, which has been a best-seller since it's release in 1985.

Mr. Bastien passed away in December 2005 and Jane continued to be a force in music education, providing seminars and presentation, until her passing in 2018.

Books by Jane Smisor Bastien

GP20 - Piano Literature - Volume 3 - Bastien
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4.43 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 1968 — 3 editions

Piano Literature - Music Through the Piano: Volume 2
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4.27 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 1966 — 3 editions

Piano Literature: Music Through the Piano - Sheet Music
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4.50 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 1965 — 2 editions

KP1B - Bastien Piano for Adults, 1 Book Only: A Beginning Course: Lessons, Theory, Technic, Sight Reading
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4.13 avg rating — 15 ratings — 2 editions

WP211 - Bastien Piano Basics - Performance Level 1
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3.53 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1985

Bastien Piano for Adults, 1 Book/Online Access: A Beginning Course: Lessons, Theory, Technic, Sight Reading
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 1999 — 3 editions

Favorite Melodies the World over: Level 1 (Wp 37 Level 1)
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3.54 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 1977 — 3 editions

WP212 - Bastien Piano Basics - Performance Level 2
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4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 1985 — 2 editions

WP38 - Favorite Melodies the World Over - Level 2 (The Bastien Older Beginer Piano Library)
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4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1997

GP441 - Piano Literature Volume 5 - Bastien (Music Through The Piano)
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings

WP24 - Piano Solos - Level 2 - Bastien Piano Library (THE BASTIEN PIANO LIBRARY)
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings

A Line a Day Sight Reading, Level 2 (Bastien Piano Basics)
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3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1990 — 3 editions

KP7 - Christmas for Adults Book 1 Sacred and Popular Christmas Carols (Bastien Adult Piano Course)
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4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1999 — 4 editions

WP103 - Happy Halloween - Bastien
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings

King's March Piano Solo
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1979

GP51 - Bastien Very Young Pianist Book 2
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1973 — 4 editions

GP34 - The Very Young Pianist - Book 1
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1997 — 3 editions

WP251 - Note Designs - A Coloring Note Speller - Bastien
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1997

WP284 - Bastien Piano Basics - Wipe-Off Note Speller
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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions

WP273 - Bastiens Invitation to Music Piano Party Book D
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions

By Jane Smisor Bastien - Piano Literature Volume 6 (1905-07-19) [Paperback]
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions

WP53 - Pop Piano Styles - Level 3
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating

WP28 - Music Teacher's Record Book – Bastien
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating

WP413 - Halloween Treats Level 3 - Bastien
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liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions

GP84 - Bastien Favorites - Level 2
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it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating

WP61 - Bastien Piano Library - Duet Favorites - Level 2
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it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions

WP263 - Bastien Line a Day Sight Reading - Level 4
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did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1993 — 2 editions

GP80 - Bastien Very Young Pianist Listens & Creates Book 2 by Jane Bastien (1975-01-01)
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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions

GP92 - Hebrew Favorites - Bastien (Music Through the Piano)
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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 5 editions

Piano Literature, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary
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0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings

Inspired by Robert Pace's "Multi-Key" pedagogical approach and her own ideas culled from years of teaching, Jane and James created the much loved and accessible "Gradual Multi-Key Approach".

In these refreshed books, students fill in note names (theory) on the same page as the piece. As new concepts are introduced, there is an exercise written to practice the new technical skill.