Current Hits for Students, Book 3: Piano Book

Matz understands exactly what intermediate pianists need to stay motivated. These arrangements strike a balance between accessibility and genuine musical satisfaction, letting students play songs they actually want to hear rather than watered-down versions that feel condescending. The progression of technical demands across the collection mirrors how students naturally develop, introducing 16th-note rhythms and expanded left-hand patterns without overwhelming them.

These arrangements capture the energy and accessibility of modern pop without losing musical substance. You'll encounter familiar melodies with contemporary harmonic language, engaging rhythmic patterns, and moments where both hands get meaningful work to do. The result feels current and relevant, not like an exercise in applying technique.

Intermediate pianists ready to play songs from the radio while building technical skills that extend beyond traditional classical studies. Students at this level can handle mixed rhythmic patterns and expanding hand positions, making this collection an ideal bridge between early-intermediate repertoire and more advanced contemporary music.

• Shape the 16th-note passages as rhythmic gestures rather than rushing through them; anchor them to steady quarter-note beats in your other hand.
• Explore the octave voicings in the left hand as dynamic color. Leaning into octaves can bring clarity and excitement to chorus sections without requiring advanced hand independence.
• Balance the pop idiom with clean, legible phrasing. These songs live in contemporary radio, so crisp articulation serves the style better than heavy pedal.

Use individual selections from this collection as recital pieces or studio showcase performances, giving students contemporary options alongside traditional repertoire. The collection works equally well as supplementary material in lessons for students working through other method books, offering frequent breaks into repertoire that excites them. Pairing these arrangements with Matz's other student collections can build a comprehensive intermediate program that keeps pianists engaged across genres.

• 16th-note rhythm reading and execution
• Octave voicing and hand positioning in both treble and bass clefs
• Left-hand arpeggiation patterns beyond basic blocked chords
• Pop song phrasing and rhythmic interpretation
• Reading and performing contemporary harmonic progressions