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Songbook Review: Out of the Blue
Cory Lavine
Cover image of the songbook Out of the Blue by Cory Lavine
Out of the Blue
Cory Lavine
2015 / Cory Lavine
57 pages / 9 songs
Review by Kathy Parsons
Out of the Blue is the companion songbook to Cory Lavine’s 2015 solo piano debut by the same name. All nine songs from the recording are included, transcribed by the composer himself. The book is spiral-bound and has full-color covers, front and back. The music is printed on a medium-weight paper stock that will stand up to many years of use and will still enable easy page turns. Most of these pieces are relatively easy and have a light, optimistic mood. Pianists at an intermediate/ upper-intermediate playing level should have little trouble learning this music. There are very few chords, so the notes are within the reach of an average-size hand. I did the proof-reading of the scores, making every effort to match the sheet music to the recordings as closely as possible. Expression and dynamics are clearly marked, including metronome settings and pedaling suggestions. The notation is roomy, clear, and easy-to-read. The book also includes a couple of photos of Cory, his bio, and the story behind the music. This is a really nice book, and I can easily recommend it to piano teachers for use with their students as well as piano enthusiasts looking for new music for themselves. The songs, the keys they are in, and the number of pages are listed below. The book is available as a printed book or an ebook, and the songs are also downloadable individually at corylavine.com. Recommended!

Riding the Wind - Key of Bb (2 flats) - 7 pages
Give Thanks - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 6 pages
Andante - Key of C - 5 pages
Child’s Wish - Key of Bb - 5 pages
Out of the Blue - Key of C - 8 pages
Fly Away - Key of G (1 sharp) - 7 pages
New Day - Key of C - 4 pages
Little Dance - Key of Bb - 5 pages
Reminiscing - Key of Ab (4 flats) - 5 pages
January 12, 2016