TV Themes.

TV Themes, arranged by Phillip Keveren. Hal Leonard Corporation (7777 W. Bluemound Rd., P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, W1 53213), 2004. 62 pp. $10.95. Early intermediate-intermediate.

TV Themes is a terrific collection of seventeen classic themes from some of America's all-time favorite television programs. From The Addams Family to Star Trek, you will find plenty of memories for all of us "older" kids, as well as memory makers for the younger generation that now gets to enjoy these classic shows as reruns. These arrangements have immediate appeal and will be enjoyed by all. Keveren states in his preface:

      What I find particularly interesting
   about this music [TV
   Themes] is its cross-generational
   appeal. Try playing "name that
   tune" at your next family gathering.
   It's hard to say whether grandparent
   or grandchild can identify I
   Love Lucy first. Thanks to rerun
   heaven, many of these tunes live on
   and on.

I especially liked the fact that this collection, although written for the early-intermediate--intermediate-level pianists, contains quite solid arrangements that are fairly easy to play, and they sound great. Younger students will enjoy the ease of being able to play these memorable tunes rather quickly, and the more advanced students will be able to utilize the chord notations to enrich the harmonies and add a bit of improvisation to the scores.

As a musician and a music educator, it is always exciting to find a new collection of songs that are just plain fun and could be used in a classroom setting. Students at all levels will enjoy being able to sing along with many of the themes, and teachers who are looking for unique program ideas will definitely find this book to be a worthy resource.

It seems that our country is experiencing a period of strong nostalgia for such entertainment hits as I Love Lucy, Charlie Brown, Happy Days and Cheers, and this book certainly will help feed that nostalgia. I am sure this collection will find a place in the hearts of children and adults alike.

This book is just one of the many wonderful collections in the Phillip Keveren Series, and it is one that will be a great source of enjoyment for many years to come. Reviewed by Robert Al Harding, Greeley, Colorado.