Karen is the author of three books on music, and articles on subjects ranging from interviews with great performers to keyboard technique to pedagogy to music-themed travel.

A New York Times best-selling author, she also writes extensively about travel and the outdoors. For a complete book list, please go to her author’s page.

The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Piano Chords

Alpha Books, 2006

Ever wonder how people can “just sit down and play songs” on the piano? This book reveals the secrets to “faking” it — playing by means of chords symbols.  But shhhh… don’t let anyone tell you it’s “music theory.” There is nothing theoretical about it. Starting from the very beginning basics of reading music and building a major chord, this book unlocks the secret formulas to creating chords so you can play music from lead sheet and fake books. Best for players with a little bit of basic music background, or those who feel comfortable trying to pick out tunes and “just make stuff up.”  If you’re a classical player who’s always been jealous of the way pop musicians can seemingly find a way to play anything, this book is for you!  Covers majors, minors, sixths and sevenths, extensions and alterations, blues, and more.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Piano Exercises

Alpha Books, 2011

I’ve always had a thing against piano exercises that were hard to learn. Seems to me that if you’re going to spend a long time learning a piece of music, it should be a piece of MUSIC that you love, or a masterwork. To me, the point of a piano exercises is to focus on a particular skill. So that’s what the exercises in this book do. There’s also quite a bit of discussion abut technique and fingering, along with lots of scales, arpeggios and other essential basic. I tried to make the pieces musically appealing so they’d be fun to play, and my students seem pretty happy. (The most popular one is a little I- vi – IV – V piece that teaches three-against-two polyrhythms.)  I also include a lot of suggestions for creative technique practice including including fingering strategies, cross-hand playing, scales and arpeggios, syncopation, polyrhythms, and transposition. Best for students with a little background in piano, or for teachers looking to supplement their technique programs. CD included.In addition to writing the text.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Teaching Music on Your Own

Alpha Books, 2010

Do you have what it takes to teach? Do you know what it takes to teach? This book has the answers, from studio set-up basics to legal and business issues to teaching strategies, student (and parent) management skills, studio policies, billing, recitals, practice issues, new technology, marketing, and more. Best for new teachers who are interested in establishing a professional, profitable, and personally rewarding private teaching business.

RECENT MUSIC ARTICLES

Buckettripper.com: Sailing the Greek Islands on L’Austral: A Moonlit Mediterranean Music Cruise

Come sail away! A luxury yacht, Greek islands, French food, and classical music.

Berkshire Magazine:  Fiddling Around

Violinist Erika Ludwig starts a string education and community music making festival in the Berkshires. (Spring, 2016)

NBCNews.com (from Forbestraveler.com) America the Musical

America’s top music cities, past and present

Buckettripper.com:  Honoring the Music Makers

At Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame, it’s the sidemen who get the glory.

WellsFargoConversations.com:  Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp

Becoming a rock star for a day is fantasy – AND reality — as fantasy campers take the stage, for real.

Buckettripper.com:  Picnicking and Concert Going at Tanglewood

How to enjoy an evening at Massachusetts’ iconic summer music festival.

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