“BARRY BILLY & THE BEATLES – THE ICONS OF MUSIC”
Appropriate for 9th through College – Drama, Music, Band, Choir Students
Exploring the musical history of the three icons, and their training and backgrounds.
Compare styles and show differences.
Play original music of icons – including original recordings – then demonstrate how I
take those songs and create and write arrangements. I will play pieces of
arrangements from the show and explain how they were created and what inspired
them.
“THRU THE LOOKING GLASS OF THE PIANO”
Appropriate for 9th through 12th Grade – Music, Band, Choir, Drama Students
Popular American Musical Styles from 1900 through 1980
Demonstrating each style on the piano, playing songs and explaining how they
influenced each other.
Starting with Ragtime (Scott Joplin), Boogie Woogie and Stride Piano (Fats Waller), Swing
(Duke Ellington), Country, Rhythm & Blues (Fats Domino), Rock & Roll (Jerry Lee Lewis),
Pop (Roger Williams), Pop Rock (Elton John), Hard Rock (Leon Russell).
“CHARASMATIC PIANO ENTERTAINERS -1920s – 1980s
Appropriate for 4th through 12th Grade – All Music Students
Demonstrate/impersonate different piano entertainers: Fats Waller, George Gershwin,
Liberace, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Elton John, Billy
Joel, and Barry Manilow.
Explain what made them each unique and then play segments of their music.
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“I LOVE A PIANO”
Appropriate for 1st through 6th Grade – All Music Students
Demonstrate how to use different styles within one song such as “I Got Rhythm.” Play
as written on sheet music, then play same melody, but using all different musical
styles, including pop and classical. For example, demonstrate how it might be played
by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin … in the style of Blues, Ragtime, Rock & Rock, etc. The
children can then call out styles to use (rock, country, classical, jazz, etc., whatever
they can think up). Children really enjoy this. Then they have to listen to other
melodies and see if they can spot them in a piano piece. End with Jerry Lee Lewis
“Great Balls of Fire” – always a huge hit!
“MUSICAL IMPROVISATIONAL WORKSHOP”
Appropriate for 10th through College – Advanced Musical Students
Demonstrate taking basic melodies and weaving different styles of music through
them. Encourage students to open their minds to new ways of playing. Show them
how to use the old training but go “out of the box” and see what happens. Brian will
demonstrate taking a few ideas then weaving them together on the spot. This is all
coming from his creativity and he has no idea how it will turn out. Incorporate jazz
and other styles into the music. Let some students experiment with these ideas and
Brian will offer suggestions.
“CREATING YOUR OWN PRODUCTION – ESSENTIALS OF DESIGNING/PRODUCING A
SHOW”
Appropriate for 11th through College – Advanced Musical/Theater Students
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Selecting your target audience
Researching ideas for production
Find “spine” of show – everything built around spine
Arranging music
Costuming
Marketing ideas
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“GERSHWIN WITH A TWIST”
Appropriate for 10th through College – Musical/Theater Students
 History of George Gershwin and his collaboration with his brother Ira
 Demonstration of George’s actual written piano pieces
 Explanation of Brian’s “Rhapsody in Gershwin” – how it was conceived and
arranged
 Demonstration of creating medleys of Gershwin’s songs
“CHAMPAGNE & IVORIES”
Appropriate for 10th through College – Musical Students
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Brian Gurl explaining his piano/vocal/theater/dance training in the USA
Katherine Alexandra explaining her piano/vocal training in Russia
Demonstration of piano duets on one piano (“Four Hands One Piano”)
Demonstration of duets on two pianos (if available)
Explanation of how arrangements for “four hands” are created
“AMERICAN RHAPSODY”
Appropriate for 4th – 12th Grades
 Demonstration of versatility of violin
 Explanation of piano and violin performing together – how they blend
 All styles of music on these instruments
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