First Favorite Classics: Accompaniment, Book 1: Piano

Stepping into the living tradition of classical music. Each piece carries the weight of centuries of musical taste, yet the writing remains transparent and inviting, never condescending. There is real substance here alongside genuine accessibility.

Studio teachers building classical repertoire skills with elementary and late elementary pianists. Directors preparing students for solo festivals or recitals who want accompaniment support. More advanced students in a studio or school program looking for meaningful collaborative experience.

• Assign the accompaniment part to a student who reads fluently at or above the primary student's level; the coordination required between parts rewards careful listening and attention to pulse.
• Use the accompaniment to establish a steady tempo when the student struggles with rhythmic consistency; the supporting keyboard part anchors the performance.
• Record yourself playing the accompaniment and have students practice along, especially useful for students working independently between lessons.

Program these selections for festival solo competitions where accompaniment strengthens performance and musicality. Use them in group recitals where multiple students can perform throughout the year, or schedule them as stepping stones between method book material and more substantial solo repertoire.

• Reading and performing classical forms (minuets, marches, character pieces)
• Coordinating rhythmic independence between right and left hand
• Responding to an accompaniment and maintaining ensemble awareness
• Stylistic interpretation of baroque and classical idioms
• Sight-reading at instructional level