2007 Greatest Pop and Movie Hits: Piano Book

This collection captures what your students actually want to play, genuine hits from 2007 that span blockbuster movie soundtracks and radio staples. Coates balances authenticity with playability, so students hear themselves performing recognizable, satisfying arrangements rather than simplified sketches.

Contemporary and approachable. These arrangements let you hear the melody clearly while maintaining enough harmonic color and rhythmic sophistication to feel genuinely satisfying. Whether you're playing the moody restraint of 'Chasing Cars' or the bombastic heroism of 'Superman Theme,' there's a real piece of music in your hands, not a reduction.

Piano students at the early intermediate level who need motivation and immediate gratification. Teachers looking for repertoire that bridges the gap between method books and more complex classical pieces will find enough variety here to keep ensemble interest alive.

• Listen to the original recordings before rehearsing. Students will feel the groove and phrasing much faster when they know what they're aiming for.
• Break the rhythm section and melody into separate rehearsal passes, especially for pieces like 'Chasing Cars' where the accompaniment pattern drives the entire feel.
• Emphasize dynamic shaping in the quieter moments. These pop arrangements often rely on restraint before building intensity, and that contrast makes performances memorable.
• Address hand position early for pieces with wider left-hand spans. The movie themes especially ask for comfort across octaves.

Build a winter concert around movie and pop themes, pairing these arrangements with orchestral or band versions for a multimedia showcase. Individual selections work well as warm-ups or fun interludes during rehearsals, keeping the energy high on long sectional days. Several pieces are strong enough for solo performances in spring recitals.

• Reading and sustaining block chord patterns in the left hand
• Balancing melody projection while maintaining steady accompaniment
• Interpreting rhythmic subdivision in contemporary pop contexts
• Managing dynamic contrast to shape shorter, radio-friendly song forms
• Navigating wider hand spans and octave displacement in movie themes