Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 2: Piano Book

Small's gift for unlocking famous melodies at an accessible level makes this book genuinely playable for early students without sacrificing musical substance. The collection spans classical, operatic, and folk traditions, so students encounter real masterworks rather than generic "beginner" pieces, building familiarity with the repertoire they'll study for years.

Opening this book feels like discovering the stories behind music you've heard in concert halls or films. Each arrangement preserves the emotional core of its source while sitting comfortably under developing hands, creating the satisfying sensation of "I'm really playing real music."

Young pianists working through early intermediate repertoire (typically grades 1-2) who benefit from studying recognizable classical themes in manageable arrangements. Parents and teachers seeking to deepen a student's musical vocabulary beyond method book pieces while keeping technical demands realistic.

• Maintain steady pulse even in pieces like "Morning Mood" where the original orchestration suggests rubato; younger hands need rhythmic anchor points before expressive flexibility.
• Balance melody and accompaniment by reminding students the left hand supports the tune rather than competing with it, especially in thinner textures like the Mozart sonata theme.
• Bring out the lyrical character in slower pieces ("Liebestraum," "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes") through gentle phrase shaping and consistent tone rather than dramatic dynamic swings.
• Practice hands separately first, then map out where the melody hand crosses into or near the staff's middle region to build security.

Feature pieces from this book in studio recitals alongside original compositions at the same level, giving students a chance to perform alongside their peers and building confidence before tackling longer works. Use it as your primary source for supplementary repertoire during the second year of study, pairing selections with corresponding method book lessons to reinforce technique.

• Reading across both staves in traditional grand staff notation
• Sustaining legato phrasing in the melody line
• Coordinating independent left-hand accompaniment patterns (Alberti bass, block chords) with right-hand melody
• Interpreting dynamic shaping and articulation markings in classical context
• Building familiarity with major and minor keys and basic harmonic progressions through melody