When musicians search for the , they are usually tired of standard piano methods that move too slowly or focus exclusively on classical repertoire. Novello’s book begins with the assumption that you want to play modern music immediately.
Do not skip the finger independence exercises. Novello uses non-standard fingerings designed for organ and synth action, not weighted piano keys. Practice these with a metronome for two weeks before moving on. the contemporary keyboardist john novello pdf
: Explores the mental side of playing, focusing on communication, purpose, and the cause-effect principles of practice . When musicians search for the , they are
True to its title, the book covers synth programming, MIDI basics, and even some sound design philosophy. While the PDF edition I reviewed is from the late 90s/early 2000s, the principles of subtractive synthesis and keyboard ergonomics remain timeless. However, don’t expect modern DAW integration or soft-synth patches. Novello uses non-standard fingerings designed for organ and
: You can borrow a digital copy of the book for free through the Internet Archive , which allows users to read or "check out" the text online.
His career spans backing icons like Buddy DeFranco and Sal Nistico to pioneering high-energy fusion. This real-world experience informs every page of The Contemporary Keyboardist . Unlike dry conservatory textbooks, Novello writes like a mentor who has survived bad monitors, difficult bandleaders, and the physical toll of touring.