Federation Trios

Teachers keep coming back to Melody Bober's Grand Trios for Piano series, particularly Books 3 and 4, which pair motivational early-intermediate material with the practical appeal of needing just one instrument. Robert D. Vandall's Triple Dip and Joyce Grill's Three's a Crowd Rag offer a different flavor for students ready for something with more rhythm and character. Mary Elizabeth Clark's arrangement of the March from The Nutcracker Suite gives you recognizable literature that students recognize immediately.

Melody Bober brings a teaching musician's instinct to every piece in this collection. She earned a master's degree in piano performance and studied under Joel Shapiro and Andrew Froelich, but her real focus is on creating pieces that help students understand and love music rather than just play notes. Her Grand Trios for Piano series has become the workhorse of this collection because she writes with a clear sense of what students at each level need to feel successful.

Joyce Grill spent her career as faculty at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and remains active in MTNA and regional music teacher organizations. She brings decades of classroom experience to every piece she writes, and that practical knowledge shows in titles like Three's a Crowd Rag, which balances musical substance with the humor that keeps ensemble rehearsals engaging. Her background as both a teacher and mentor to other teachers means her work tends to solve real problems studio instructors face.

Robert D. Vandall contributes more titles to this collection than anyone except Bober, and his work tends toward pieces with narrative or character. Triple Dip demonstrates his gift for creating novelty pieces that don't sacrifice musicality, making his pieces a reliable choice when you need something that will hold a student's attention and entertain an audience.