A Perfect 10, Book 2: Piano Book

Bober curates these ten pieces with a composer's ear for what works in the practice room and on stage. Rather than string together generic exercises, she pairs a teaching piece from each major style period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary) with six original works across Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Latin, Ballad, and Showstopper styles, giving students genuine exposure to multiple musical languages. Each selection balances technical challenge with emotional satisfaction, so students experience real accomplishment as they progress through the collection.

A musical journey across centuries and continents. One moment you're waltzing with elegance; the next you're riding a ragtime stride piano or feeling the cool swagger of a blues phrase. Each piece has its own emotional footprint, from the stately grace of 'Royal Fanfare' to the sunlit ease of 'Sunny Slopes,' giving pianists real chances to explore their own interpretive voice across radically different moods and textures.

Late elementary and early intermediate pianists who are ready for genuine musical variety and want pieces that feel rewarding to perform. These solos work equally well for students in private lessons and group studio settings, and they suit recital performers who want to move beyond one-dimensional technical studies.

• Honor the stylistic markings closely. 'Jazzy Saxophone' and 'Ragtime on Parade' demand rhythmic swagger and swing feels that reshape how the student approaches articulation and timing; these are not classical precision pieces.
• Break longer pieces into musical phrases rather than page breaks. Work one complete section until it flows, then add the next, so the student internalizes shape and form rather than just surviving note sequences.
• Record yourself playing a piece at tempo, then have the student listen before they perform it. Hearing the full musical arc beforehand removes some anxiety and clarifies interpretive choices.
• Use the style contrasts within the collection as a strength. Learning Blues vocabulary helps when approaching the Ballad; Ragtime experience sharpens rhythmic precision that carries into the Classical Dance.

This collection is ideal for spring recitals where you want to showcase student progress across the entire year without padding a program with easier material. You can also use individual pieces to represent different style periods in a thematic studio or school concert, or assign pieces strategically based on each student's readiness and personality; a rhythmically confident student might shine in 'One-Two Cha-Cha-Cha' while a lyrical learner connects to 'Waltz with Me.'

• Swing feel and rhythmic interpretation in jazz and blues contexts
• Baroque and Classical period conventions (ornamentation, phrasing, harmonic function)
• Latin rhythm patterns and syncopation
• Ragtime stride bass technique and syncopated melody
• Dynamic control and expressive shaping across contrasting moods
• Articulation variety (legato, staccato, swing eighth notes)
• Form recognition through contrasting piece types
• Harmonic awareness across jazz, blues, and traditional styles