Encore!, Book 2: Piano Book

A rich survey of piano writing across centuries, where each piece reveals something different about the instrument and the composer's hand. The journey moves you from the clarity and structure of Baroque counterpoint through Classical elegance, Romantic depth, and into the varied textures of contemporary voices.

Students who have finished their core method book and are ready to engage with real literature at a serious level. This is ideal for pianists preparing for recitals, auditions, or simply deepening their musicianship beyond technical exercises.

• Spend time with the editor's commentary before diving into each piece; it provides historical context and interpretive guidance that shapes how you approach the score.
• Select pieces that speak to you personally rather than working through the book sequentially. Ownership of the music matters more than completion at this level.
• Record yourself regularly as you work through these pieces. Late-intermediate playing benefits enormously from hearing your own phrasing, tempo consistency, and voice leading choices played back.

Use individual pieces from this collection as recital staples throughout the year, programming them alongside works from other sources to create varied and cohesive programs. The diversity of era and style also makes it valuable for students exploring which periods resonate most with their musical sensibilities.

• Interpreting period-specific articulation and phrasing conventions
• Reading editor's notes and applying scholarly guidance to performance decisions
• Voice leading awareness across multiple textures (counterpoint, sonata, homophonic writing)
• Sustaining focus and musical architecture across longer, multi-section works
• Comparative listening and analysis across musical eras