Review: Venturing Beyond

Lesson resources, Reviews

While searching for suitable repertoire for several of her older beginning students and realizing that the literature she was seeking was not available, Nicole DiPaolo developed the pieces that make up, Venturing Beyond.

Venturing Beyond is a collection of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic-style compositions in uncommon keys for late novice to early intermediate pianists of all ages. The collection includes 10 pieces written in sharp keys and 10 pieces written in flat keys.

Nicole was looking for musically rich, yet listener friendly repertoire with very modest technical demands. Because many of her beginners had previous experience with other instruments she wanted pieces in various tonalities that would challenge their already strong reading skills.

Nicole Elyse DiPaolo

In 2013, Nicole began her present collection and received positive feedback and encouragement from her teenage/adult beginner students to continue. In 2014, Venturing Beyond was officially published.

It was a pleasant experience playing through the Venturing Beyond collection. The collection is true to the Baroque, Classical and Romantic style of compositions. I always appreciate it when a collection of music includes notes from the composer on each piece. I think it is very helpful to know what the composer had in mind when they wrote a piece. Nicole gives a brief background on how the piece should be played and also includes the skills that are used in this piece. This is especially helpful for teachers.

I included a sample of a few pieces so you can get a feel of the level of this collection. All the pieces in Venturing Beyond begin with 3 or more sharps or flats.

 

Sample4

Sample3

Sample2

Sample1

Please take a moment to visit Nicole’s website here.  Venturing Beyond is available for your students to enjoy by purchasing on SheetMusicPlus.

Nicole has graciously offered all my readers a free copy of two pieces that she has written that did not quite make the collection. You can download Prelude in G and Waltz in F# minor at the links below.

Prelude in G-N.DiPaolo

Waltz in F#minor-N.DiPaolo

In addition Nicole is giving away one copy of Venturing Beyond to a lucky teacher! Thank you Nicole! To enter, please leave a comment below. Deadline to enter is by this Tuesday, July 29th, 10:00pm (AZ Mountain Standard). For an extra entry, follow me on TPT and just leave a comment that you follow. GIVEAWAY HAS EXPIRED

Be sure to like FPSResources on Facebook to stay up to date on giveaways, reviews and other music resources.

36 Comments

  1. crytting2012

    Thank you Jennifer for the review! Thank you Nicole for the two free solos! I would love to receive the collection of pieces in “Venturing Beyond”.

    Reply
  2. Beverly Conway

    Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for the free solos. I’m very curious about how my students will respond to this music and eager to give it a try!

    Reply
  3. pianolearner

    This looks like a great book. Thanks for uploading the two free pieces. I’d love to win the book 🙂

    Reply
  4. Janeen

    Venturing Beyond looks great! I would love to win this book. I was just asking, on Facebook, if anyone knew about a book that was at an intermediate level and used a variety of keys. Thank you!!

    Reply
  5. Susan

    Your music sounds very interesting. I have adult students who need some interesting but not over challenging music. Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Debbie Wiser

    Sounds like a great resource.

    Reply
  7. Karen C

    Would love to add this to my music stash.

    Reply
  8. Karen C

    Following you on TPT.

    Reply
  9. Elaine

    This sounds perfect for older beginning students! Thank you.

    Reply
  10. Rebecca

    These pieces look fascinating and would fill in a gap in my library! Thanks for having this giveaway.

    Reply
  11. Rebecca

    I also follow on TpT!

    Reply
  12. Rhoda

    sounds like it is perfect for older student

    Reply
  13. Rhoda

    I am a follower of TPT

    Reply
  14. Brad Garner

    I believe this might be what I have been looking for

    Reply
  15. Brad Garner

    follower of tpt

    Reply
  16. Walter

    Thanks for introducing us to some many new resources!

    Reply
  17. Walter

    follower of tpt

    Reply
  18. Teresa

    Forget the students — I need something new! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Teresa

    follower of TpT

    Reply
  20. Carla

    I agree — I need something! Tired of my ‘old faithfuls”

    Reply
  21. Carla

    follower of tpt — haven’t bought anything yet, but I have my eye on a couple of things

    Reply
  22. Jeannie

    Love getting new music!

    Reply
  23. Jeannie

    followers of TPT — been working on Reaching Beyond the Stars and I am really getting excited about it!

    Reply
  24. Karen T

    I’m a TPT follower

    Reply
  25. Karen T

    Love to hear about new music!

    Reply
  26. Orlia

    Lovely pieces, and I love the premise of using the less common keys.

    Reply
  27. Orlia

    And I’m a TPT follower!

    Reply
  28. Zoe Iglesias

    Interesting pieces. I would like to get all of them 🙂

    Reply
  29. Zoe Iglesias

    I’m a follower in TpT. 🙂

    Reply
  30. Carla

    Thank you both for this kind offer!

    Reply
  31. Lisa

    These look wonderful! Would love to have something like this for students

    Reply
  32. Julie

    The music looks fun. Thanks for the offer!

    Reply
  33. Julie

    Following you on TPT also.

    Reply
  34. Sue

    I’m totally interested!

    Reply
  35. Sue

    I’m a TPT follower for sure!

    Reply

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