Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 3 Cover Image

Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 3: Piano Book

$8.99 USD
$8.99 USD
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Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 3 Cover Image
Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 3: Piano Book

Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Classic Themes Book 3: Piano Book

Arranged by Allan Small

Level: 3

Item: 00-3123
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Description
These volumes contain easy-to-play arrangements of great classical melodies. The arrangements allow the music to be introduced to younger students. While designed to correlate with Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Classic Themes may be used with any piano method or instruction course. Titles: All Through the Night * Auld Lang Syne * Berceuse (From "Jocelyn") * Blue Danube Waltz * Chorale * Ciribiribin * Dolores * Finlandia * Flow Gently, Sweet Afton * Funeral March of a Marionette * Themes from Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Liszt) * Israeli Dance * Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring * The Merry Wives of Windsor * Pizzicati (From "Sylvia") * Russian Waltz * Spanish Dance (Pas d'Espagne) * Valse Lente (From "Coppelia") * Wooden Shoe Dance (From "Hansel and Gretel").

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred's Basic Piano Library
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 32
ISBN10: 0-7390-1649-0
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-1649-7
UPC: 038081002590
SKU: 00-3123

More about this title

About the Arranger: Allan Small

Allan Small

Allan Small (born Elias Schreibman) began piano study at age 11 and went on to direct his own ten-piece band at the Arcadia Ballroom in New York City while performing regularly in the Catskill Mountain hotels. Largely self-taught in harmony, orchestration, and counterpoint, he arranged music for major figures including André Kostelanetz, Morton Gould, and Paul Whiteman, with his Kostelanetz scores now preserved in the Library of Congress.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Small taught piano and published music through his own Schreibman Press, which eventually became Claire Music before being acquired by Alfred Music Publishing. Alfred's catalog includes over 30 works arranged or composed by Small. In his later years, he composed symphonic works published by Carl Fischer and served as conductor and arranger for the Florida Mandolin Orchestra. Small, who passed away in 1998, was also an accomplished painter and maintained memberships in the American Federation of Musicians and ASCAP.

Why we love this

Small's arrangements strike an excellent balance between preserving the character of these beloved classical themes and making them genuinely playable for students at the intermediate level. The collection spans multiple styles and periods, giving young pianists exposure to waltz forms, national dances, and operatic melodies within a single book.

What to expect

Opening this book feels like stepping into a musical gallery where each piece offers something different to discover. From the gentle flow of a Brahms berceuse to the spirited rhythm of Spanish and Hungarian dances, the arrangements invite students to inhabit recognizable classical worlds without overwhelming technical demands.

Who it's for

This book suits intermediate piano students (roughly grades 3-5) who are ready to explore arrangements of concert music beyond their piano method pages. It works well for students in group or private lessons who want to build repertoire and gain familiarity with classical composers and forms.

How to get the most out of it

  • Bring out the melody clearly, especially in pieces like 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' where the tune sits in the upper staff; let it sing even at modest tempos.
  • Pay attention to waltz rhythm in pieces like 'Blue Danube Waltz' and 'Russian Waltz'; a light, flexible accompaniment in the left hand prevents the three-beat pulse from feeling mechanical.
  • Use the key and style indications to set character before playing; 'Funeral March of a Marionette' asks for a very different touch than 'Wooden Shoe Dance.'

How to use it

Assign individual pieces from this collection as recital repertoire throughout the year, allowing students to prepare one or two selections at a time rather than committing to a full book at once. The variety makes it useful for studio recitals, informal performances, or as supplemental material to reinforce concepts students are learning in their method book.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing basic waltz rhythms (left-hand accompaniment patterns in triple meter)
  • Bringing out a melody line while maintaining supporting harmonic texture
  • Recognizing and interpreting stylistic indicators (tempo, character markings, articulation)
  • Building musical independence by exploring multiple forms and national styles within one collection

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