Contest Winners for Two, Book 2: 7 Original Piano Duets from the Alfred, Belwin, and Myklas Libraries: Piano Duets & Four Hands

A mix of lighthearted character sketches and spirited rhythmic pieces that keep both players engaged. There's movement and personality in every selection; even the simpler moments have enough musical detail to feel rewarding rather than rote.

Late elementary piano students ready to experience ensemble playing without overwhelming technical demands. Teachers building a duet library that's genuinely performance-ready and contest-appropriate from day one.

• Balance the primo and secondo lines carefully during the marching band and dance selections, where both hands carry equal melodic weight.
• In the pieces with rhythmic drive like 'Dueling Pianos' and 'Wild Horse Round-Up', lock the tempo between players before rehearsing at full speed; sync matters more than individual accuracy here.
• Listen for textural clarity in 'Copycat' and 'Clowns' where imitative writing can blur if players don't maintain distinct articulation.
• Let the playful character pieces breathe at their marked tempos; there's often more musical life in a measured pace than a rushed one.

These seven pieces work beautifully as pre-recital material or festival prep, especially if you're helping multiple students develop duet literacy at the same level. Scatter them through the year as supplementary material between larger solo works, or build an entire concert around duets paired with student solos for variety.

• Listening and balancing two independent lines simultaneously
• Maintaining steady tempo while tracking a separate rhythmic or melodic part
• Reading two different staves with different hand positions and ranges
• Shaping phrase endings collaboratively across a duet partnership
• Building confidence in performance through contest-tested, proven repertoire