A Perfect 10, Book 3: Piano Book

Bober structures this collection brilliantly around the core pedagogical challenge of early intermediate piano: building expressive maturity alongside technical growth. Each stylistic period piece pairs with an original composition in a complementary genre, so students encounter both historical grounding and contemporary relevance in a single book. The inclusion of two festival selections gives students immediate performance goals.

A musical passport spanning centuries and continents. One moment you are floating through a baroque arabesque; the next you are snapping fingers in a cool jazz groove or swaying in a Latin rhythm. The collection balances reflective ballads and stormy atmospheric pieces with upbeat showstoppers, giving each practice session emotional and stylistic range.

Early intermediate pianists ready to explore multiple musical styles and deepen their interpretive skills without overwhelming technical demands. This book works well for students preparing for festival play, those interested in jazz and contemporary idioms, or learners who thrive with variety and programmatic structure.

• Approach the Baroque and Classical selections first to establish a secure rhythmic and harmonic foundation before tackling the freer jazz and contemporary pieces.
• Pay particular attention to the articulation markings in the jazz and ragtime selections; these pieces demand clarity between legato, staccato, and swing rhythms to achieve their character.
• Use the contrasting dynamics and mood shifts within each piece (especially in the original compositions) as natural opportunities to explore different tones at the keyboard.
• Record yourself playing the pieces back to back in the order they appear; this reinforces the stylistic variety and helps build confidence across the full collection.

Build a studio recital or festival entry around individual pieces from this book, or program multiple selections in sequence to demonstrate stylistic versatility and technical progress. The pairing of traditional repertoire with original compositions works particularly well for showcasing how historical forms inform contemporary writing.

• Understanding harmonic language across Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary styles
• Swing rhythm and jazz articulation (eighth-note feel, comping patterns)
• Blues improvisation and blues scale application
• Ragtime rhythm and syncopation
• Latin rhythmic patterns and clave-based accompaniment
• Dynamic range and tonal control for expressive storytelling
• Pedal technique across different musical contexts
• Sight-reading fluency within early intermediate repertoire