A few months ago, I wrote a post with 15 supplemental collections for elementary piano students. Today, I’m sharing my favorites for intermediate students.
Intermediate students are exploring lyrical, romantic-style playing in Schumann’s Op. 68 and Burgmüller’s Op. 100, Bach inventions, sonatinas from the Classical period, and angular, rhythmic pieces by Bartok.
But how can we as teachers add variety and musical interest to their repertoire lists? How can we include more diversity in the composers we choose and the musical styles we teach?
Through the years, I've developed a go-to list of intermediate-level collections, but I’m adding a few new ones to my list this year that I learned about at NCKP (National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy) this summer.
Grab a cup of coffee and your favorite notebook — here are my favorite supplemental books for intermediate students:
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Celebrated Virtuosic Solos, Book 2
(Robert Vandall)
I’ve had a few middle and high school boys who love playing fast, virtuosic pieces, and this collection is perfect. A great opportunity to reinforce and develop technical skills and play fast. Level 3.
Jazz, Rags, and Blues, Book 2
(Martha Mier)
I love this series by Martha Mier — such a great way to introduce rags, blues, and other jazz styles to my students. If you love playing duets in your studio, you might also enjoy Jazz, Rags, and Blues for Two, Book 2. Level 4.
The Best of Melody Bober, Book 2
(Melody Bober)
I first came across this collection when choosing NYSSMA Solo Festival pieces. The music is lovely and offers many opportunities to discuss lyrical phrasing, voicing, tempo, relative keys, and more. The titles are captivating and the pieces are great for performances. Levels 3-5.
Portraits in Jazz
(Valerie Capers)
I’m using this book in my studio for the first time this year. It’s a collection of 12 pieces written in a variety of jazz styles (each one a tribute to a different jazz artist). Valerie Capers is an African-American composer and the first blind graduate from the Juilliard School. Levels 4-6.
The Victress Sessions
(Andrea Dow)
This pop collection is based on music written by classical women composers such as Clara Schumann, Louise Farrenc, Amy Beach, and Fanny Mendelssohn. Level 4.
The Sebastian Sessions
(Andrea Dow)
Similar to the collection above, this one features pop pieces based on works by J.S. Bach. Some of my students have enjoyed learning these pieces alongside the original Bach piece. Level 4.
Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style
(William Gillock)
This is a classic collection for intermediate students. Inside, you’ll find 24 short character pieces, one in every major and minor key. The programmatic titles are captivating for students and lend themselves well to a variety of programming options. Levels 3-7.
Disney Songs for Classical Piano
(arr. Phillip Keveren)
For those who love Disney music, this collection (and the sequel) features all the favorites arranged for classical piano. Some are set in the style of a particular piece (e.g. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is written in the style of MacDowell’s “To a Wild Rose”), which provides a great opportunity for score-study and music-listening projects. Levels 6-7.
Japanese Festival
(Yoshinao Nakada)
This collection features 17 solo pieces “filled with sophisticated sounds, expressive writing, and oriental idioms.” Pieces increase in difficulty as the book progresses. Levels 1-6.
Windy Nights and Other Tales
(Chee-Hwa Tan)
Another musical and whimsical collection by Chee-Hwa Tan, this book includes three captivating solos, each based on a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Level 7.
Your turn:
What are your favorite supplemental resources for intermediate students? I'd love to hear your suggestions!
