Biography
Elizabeth C. Axford (Liz), owner of Piano Press, has been a full-time studio piano instructor since 1984, on both coasts of the U.S., first in Miami, FL (1984-1992), then in San Diego, CA (1992-Present). In Miami she conducted keyboard clinics for Yamaha and Roland using digital piano labs in both Suniland Music Shoppe and Miami Music Works. She earned her MA in Music from San Diego State University, and BA in Music from the University of Illinois. A published author, songwriter, arranger, poet, and producer, her products created for Piano Press are used by music teachers and students worldwide. She is an active member of NSAI, ASCAP, TAXI, MTAC, MTNA, and a voting member of NARAS.
One of the original seven NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) Regional Workshop coordinators, she started the Miami, FL NSAI Workshop in 1990, and the San Diego NSAI Workshop in 1992, after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area of Miami in which she taught and lived. During this time, she has produced or attended over 150 songwriting/music business seminars in LA, Nashville, San Diego, Miami, Dallas, Orlando, and Daytona Beach, as well as conducted monthly regional NSAI songwriting workshops.
She has studied songwriting privately with Marc-Alan Barnette, Rick Beresford, Jason Blume, and Harriet Schock. She participated in Jai Josefs' songwriting classes at The Musician's Institute in LA, as well as his Monday Night Group with peers Alex Del Zoppo (Sweetwater), Neil Devor (David Foster), and Glenn Rumbaoa (Universal Music Group), among others. Many of her songs have won awards in international songwriting contests, including those sponsored by Billboard and Unisong, as well as other regional songwriting contests. Her songs and arrangements have been heard on artist's CDs, in videos, on the radio, in TV commercials, on CNN and PBS, as sound chips in greeting cards, as ringtones, and on the Internet.
Both her critically acclaimed music reference books written for Scarecrow Press, Inc., "Song Sheets to Software - A Guide to Print Music, Software, Instructional Media, and Web Sites for Musicians" (now in its 3rd ed. w/CD-ROM) and "Traditional World Music Influences in Contemporary Solo Piano Literature" can be found in university and public libraries throughout the world, including those of Julliard, Oberlin, Eastman, Yale, Harvard, UCLA, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Princeton, MIT, University of Oxford, University of Sydney, and many, many others. Her "Keyboard Chops" articles appear online at www.indie-music.com. Her column "Songwriting and the Web" appeared in the NSAI Newswire.
Instrumentation
Pianist, Keyboard Player, Vocalist
All songs posted under "Audio" were recorded at Denny Martin Music in Nashville, TN with his session players and demo singers, except "I Never Knew" produced by Peter Roberts at Blue Danube Music Production in LA. All songs written or co-written by Liz Axford.
Discography
Television
1) Sit and Be Fit (PBS) Music Composer/"A Hanukkah Tale" - Sit and Be Fit
2) Sit and Be Fit (PBS) Music Arranger/"S'Vivon" - Sit and Be Fit
Commercials
1) Obama Ad (CNN) Music Arranger/"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - HHC
Theater
1) The Big Bad Wolf Meets Santa Claus, Music Arranger/"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - Theatre on Main
2) The Big Bad Wolf Meets Santa Claus, Music Arranger/"O Christmas Tree!" - Theatre on Main
Modeling
1) Store Front Window Display, Photo/Senior High School Picture - Olan Mills Portrait Studios
2) Promotional Brochure, Choir Member/Brookens Jr. High School Chorus - The Collegiate Cap and Gown Company
3) Robeson's Fashion Show, Piano Accompanist - Robeson's Department Store
4) News Gazette Promo, Figure Skater - United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA)
5) The Moniter Promo, Soft Ball Player - Lassie League
Infomercial
1) Dr. Tabor's Diet Infomercial, Music Composer/"Big Screen TV" - Physicians Laboratories/Aaron Tabor, MD
Hosting
1) NAMM Show Exhibit Booth Host/Owner - Piano Press
2) Piano Press Studio Recitals, Recital Organizer and Host/Coach - Piano Press
3) Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Special Events, Special Events Organizer/Regional Workshop Coordinator, Miami, FL (1990-1992) and San Diego, CA (1992-Present)
4) Yamaha Clinic Concerts, Hostess - Suniland Music Shoppe, Miami, FL
5) Holiday Songs in Lobby, Greeter/Pianist - Coconut Grove Bank, Coconut Grove, FL
6) Santa Fe Opera, Usher - Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM
Music
1) Verizon Ringtones, Songwriter/Arranger/"Christmas in Florida," "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - Verizon Wireless
2) Thumbplay Ringtones, Songwriter/Arranger/"Christmas in Florida," "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - Thumbplay
3) MonsterMob Ringtones, Songwriter/Arranger/"Christmas in Florida," "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - MonsterMob Indonesia
4) Notes on the Human Condition CD by Brian Minshew, Songwriter/ "Whenever You're Ready" - Backyard Records/Produced by Goose Goodrich, Michelle Holder, and Michael Harris
5) Hold Music, Music Arranger/"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - Inland Video Supply
6) Hold Music, Music Arranger/"I Have a Little Dreydl" - Bargain Judaica, Inc.
7) Love Looks Good on You CD by Jamie Cutler and John Butler, Songwriter/"Christmas in Florida" - Starcut Publishing
8) Ratango CD/DVD by Marina Dorell, Producer/English Lyricist - Ratango Records/with Marina Dorell and Matthew Dela Pola
9) Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Benefit CD by Jamie Reno, Background Vocalist/"Survivor's Song" w/Peter Frampton on Guitar/Produced by Jamie Reno and Josquin des Pres
10) Country Songs 1 CD by Susanne Holm, Songwriter/"It's Not Like We Never Drove Through Texas" - Naxos Finland/Produced by Clas Holm
11) Stjärnbandet 2004 Festival, Songwriter/"Who's Been Playing With the Jukebox?" by Susanne Holm - Radio Vega/Finland
12) Snapshot CD by Ernie Wylie, Songwriter/"Too Deep" - Adama Music/Ernie Harkins
13) Kidtunes CD, Executive Producer - Piano Press
14) Fresh, Songwriter/"Personal Touch" - MDVD Network, Inc./Mary Ivory and Matthew Dela Pola
15) Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah CD, Producer/Arranger/Performer - Piano Press
16) Piano Solo and Duet Recitals, Pianist - Duncan Music Studio
17) The Carol Calorie Show, Music Arranger/Lyricist - Brookens Jr. High School
18) Brookens Jr. High School Chorus LP Album, Choir Member/Alto - Brookens Jr. High School/Willie T. Summerville
19) Talent Shows, Singer/Dancer - Yankee Ridge School
1) Song Sheets to Software - A Guide to Print Music, Software, Instructional Media and Web Sites for Musicians Book/CD-ROM, Author - Scarecrow Press, Inc.
2) Sound Chip in Greeting Card, Music Arranger/"Jolly Old St. Nicholas" - The Lang Companies
3) Holiday Fun Series, Arranger/Songwriter/Graphics - Piano Press
4) Pieces for Piano Series, Composer/Graphics - Piano Press
5) The Art of Music - A Collection of Writings, Compiler/Editor/Author - The Art of Music, Inc.
6) Musical Colors Series, Compiler/Graphics - Piano Press
7) The Music Box and Other Delights, Compiler/Arranger/Graphics - Piano Press
8) Kidtunes Songbook and Activity Guide, Arranger/Graphics - Piano Press
9) I Practiced! I'm Proud!, Author/Graphics - Piano Press
10) Traditional World Music Influences in Contemporary Solo Piano Literature, Author - Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Internet
1) Israel60 Web Site, Music Arranger/"Hatikva" - Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education
2) Corporate Web Site Holiday Card, Music Arranger/"Jolly Old St. Nicholas" - Wunderman
3) Christmas E-Card, Music Arranger/"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - Greenroom Digital
4) Christmas E-Card, Music Arranger/"Oh, How Lovely Is the Evening" - Konitek
Video
1) Profile Piece: Rabbi Video, Music Arranger/"Shalom Chaverim" - Emmy-Winning ImageMaster Productions/Dan Johnson
2) Mama Video, Introduction Music Arranger/"Hava Nagila" - Marshall-Grant Ministries/Carolyn Marshall
3) Loose Tile Video, English Lyricist - Ratango Records/Marina Dorell
Links
| http://www.pianopress.com |
| IMDb Pro Resume |
| Songwriting/Arranging Credits |
| MySpace Page |
| Taxi Page |
| SongRamp Page |