Christian Hits for Teens, Book 1: Piano Book

Bober has arranged these songs with genuine understanding of what teen pianists actually want to play. The harmonies feel fresh and contemporary without overshooting technical abilities, and the rhythmic energy in each arrangement makes the pieces rewarding from the first read-through. Because they're songs your students already know from youth groups and streaming playlists, they'll approach practice with built-in enthusiasm.

These pieces pulse with the energy of modern praise music while maintaining the sophistication that comes from careful harmonic writing. Each arrangement captures the emotional core of its original songwriting, whether conveying the contemplative reverence of 'Above All' or the celebratory brightness of 'Shout to the Lord.' Playing through this collection feels like bringing contemporary worship music to life on the piano.

Teens who play piano at an early intermediate to intermediate level and want to explore repertoire that connects to their faith community and the contemporary music they hear in worship settings. These arrangements work especially well for students in private lessons who are ready to move beyond traditional classical or jazz-pop hybrids and need material that feels current and relevant.

• Pay close attention to the rhythmic subdivisions in the syncopated passages; these songs sit somewhere between classical and contemporary pop, so precision in articulation will make the grooves lock.
• Let the rich harmonies breathe by observing all rests and allowing space to speak, especially in the quieter sections of songs like 'In Christ Alone.'
• Lean into the dynamic contrasts marked throughout; these arrangements use volume shifts to create drama and draw the listener in rather than relying on simply playing louder.
• Consider how the arrangement's texture changes from verse to chorus and plan your pedal work accordingly to maintain clarity without muddying the underlying harmonic movement.

Program these pieces for youth group talent shows, church coffee hours, youth retreats, or worship service prelude and postlude moments where contemporary music strengthens the liturgical environment. The collection works beautifully as a through-the-year resource, with individual songs drawn out for specific seasons or events rather than performed as a suite.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms in a contemporary idiom
• Interpreting contemporary harmonic language and chord extensions
• Executing smooth voice leading across both hands
• Balancing melodic projection with accompaniment texture
• Developing musicality in non-classical genres