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About the Author

Blake Neely has been playing piano since he was about 4 years old, al-though it took a while before real audible music could be detected. Hisfascination with music led him to other instruments, such as the Frenchhorn, guitar, and drums, but the keyboard remains his baby.

Upon graduation from the University of Texas in 1991, he moved to LosAngeles to experience the music business. He licensed music for HollywoodRecords and later worked for Disney Music Publishing as editor of allprinted music publications.

An award-winning composer and author, he has written symphonies, a pianoconcerto, and numerous orchestral and chamber works. He is co-author ofthe acclaimed FastTrack series, published by Hal Leonard Corporation.

Blake has worked as a composer, orchestrator, arranger, copyist, engraver,musicologist, and consultant for such prominent figures as Disney, HalLeonard Corporation, Decca Records, Hyperion Books, composers MichaelKamen and Alan Menken, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Currently living in Austin, Texas, Blake spends his free time tuning into hisfamily: wife Elizabeth, daughter Jordan, and son Jacob. Blake is the proudowner of a Kawai grand piano and Kurzweil, Ensoniq, and E-Mu synths andsamplers. You can reach Blake via e-mail at B l a k e N e e y @ a o l . c o m .

DedicationThis book is dedicated to anyone who has ever dreamed of being a musicianbut had no idea where to begin. If a little guy from Paris, Texas can do it, socan you.

Author's AcknowledgmentsSpecial thanks to Cherry Lane Music, Ted Piechocinski, and John Cerullo forthinking of me; to Keith Mardak for being Keith Mardak (I said your nametwice!); to Brad Smith for the connections; to Richard Slater and Tom Johnsfor the photos; to Rick Walters for rearranging his schedule; to JasonFrankhouser at Digital Lane for mastering the CD; and to Susan Borgeson forgetting me started in the business.

Additional thanks to Sandy Morgenthal at E-Mu, Joe Kramer at Ensoniq,Brian Chung at Kawai, Larry Harms at Roland, and Ray Reuter at Yamaha forthe consultations and information about their toys.

Extra special thanks to Mary Goodwin, my patient and kind editor at1DG Books; to Stacey Mickelbart for catching all those darn passive verbs; toPaul Kuzmic for downloading all those files; to Mark Butler for taking achance with this book; to Jonathan Malysiak for help with the cover; and tothe inspiring Jeff Sultanof, my technical editor/researcher/friend/therapist,for his wealth of ideas, knowledge, encouragement, and humor.

Personal thanks to my piano teachers for making me less of a dummy; to myparents for enduring long hours of practice and dinner delays; to my sisterfor playing piano duets with me; to my brother for finally opening my ears tojazz; to my in-laws for letting their daughter marry a crazy musician; and toJ.S. Bach for the genius that he was and inspiration that he is.

Never-ending thanks to my wife, Elizabeth, for her constant love and sup-port; and to my kids, Jordan and Jacob, for making the sun shine every day.