The Flex-Ability series, arranged by Victor Lopez, fills the need for multi-level instrumentalists to play popular music together. Each instrument book includes 11 songs in four-part score form. The top line (solo) is for level 2 1/2-3. The second line (duet/harmony) is for level 2-2 1/2. The third line (trio/harmony) is for level 1 1/2. The bottom line (harmony or bass line) is for level 1/2-1 (only whole, half, dotted half, and quarter notes and rests). The arrangements are carefully crafted to be educationally sound. Optional octaves and cue notes are included to allow for range flexibility. The songs are: Jingle Bells * Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * (I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas * Frosty the Snowman * I'll Be Home for Christmas * Angels We Have Heard on High * Joy to the World * We Wish You a Merry Christmas * Auld Lang Syne * Chanukah Medley: Chanukah/I Have a Little Dreydl.

Studies play an important role in musical instrument training. Gerhard Mantel's new edition Etüden üben (Practising studies) (3 volumes) complements his previous successful book Cello üben (ED 8714). The basics of cello technique are worked on in selected studies, with the focus being not only on the ability to learn a technically and musically oriented text within a reasonable time but also on the solution of certain problems typical of the cello. Vol. 1 covers aspects ranging from the orientation on the fingerboard via changes of position, vibrato and trills to changes of strings and double stops. Vol. 2 deals with fingerings, whole-bow stroke, dynamics, articulation and types of bowing, among others. The final volume contains studies on legato, arpeggios, chords, martellato, staccato, spiccato and changes of rhythm. The accompanying volume of commentaries (for all three volumes) describes in detail the methodological practising processes.Contenu - Octaves - Fingerings - Whole bow strokes, Energy progression - Dynamics - Articulation - Bowing patterns