Overview

In the 1920s, novelty piano playing was all the rage, made popular by Victor Records and the Q.R.S. player-piano rolls that people enjoyed all across America. The prime composer of this music was piano genius Zez Confrey, who wrote his Modern Course in Novelty Piano Playing for musicians who wanted to play in this new, jazzy style. The course was in print for decades, and thousands of copies were sold. Unfortunately, the course was printed on cheap paper that would soon become damaged and then discarded. Today, the course is almost impossible to find. For that reason, Waking Lion Press has republished this classic work that will keep your toes tapping and your fingers flying across the keys. Confrey wrote, ""The object of this book is to assist pianists in their embellishment of popular songs and music. The author's idea of its accomplishment is to familiarize the pianist with a systematic series of figures, arpeggios, etc., that harmonize with the various chords most commonly used in popular music. Most of these figures are identical with those used by the author in recording Q.R.S. Player Rolls and Victor Records and are demonstrated in all keys in which popular music is generally written. This volume contains a special appeal to pianists engaged in orchestra work who should find its contents and practice of direct benefit to them. It is to his fellow pianists that the author dedicates this volume, feeling that in so doing he places it in appreciative and sympathetic hands.""

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9781434105837

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Edward Elzear ""Zez"" Confrey (3 April 1895 - 22 November 1971) was an American composer and performer of novelty piano and jazz music. In 1921 Confrey wrote his novelty piano solo ""Kitten on the Keys,"" inspired by hearing his grandmother's cat walk on the keyboard of her piano. The song became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the genre. ""Dizzy Fingers"" (1923) was Confrey's other biggest seller.Following the 1920s, Confrey focused primarily on composing for jazz bands. He retired after World War II but continued to compose until 1959. He died at age 76 in Lakewood, New Jersey, after suffering for many years from Parkinson's disease. He left behind more than a hundred piano works, songs and miniature operas, and numerous piano rolls, music publications, and sound recordings.

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