Glover's Festival of Favorites: Piano Book

Glover's gift for writing pieces with immediate appeal never overshadows his attention to musical detail. Students play these pieces with genuine enjoyment while absorbing solid fundamentals, and the stylistic variety means every student finds something that speaks to them.

Playful, approachable, and musically genuine. The pieces capture the spirit of early jazz and character pieces without pretension, inviting pianists to discover that learning music can be genuinely fun. Each piece feels like a small adventure rather than a technical exercise.

Elementary pianists who thrive on variety and immediate musical gratification. This collection works equally well in private studios and group settings where students benefit from short, satisfying pieces that build confidence alongside competence.

• Explore the character of each piece before diving into technique. Pieces like 'Sneaky Creepy Things' reward thoughtful interpretation of mood and texture, not just accurate note-reading.
• Use tempo as an expressive tool. These pieces respond well to slight rubato and dynamic shaping that brings out their individual personalities.
• Pay attention to the written articulations and dynamic markings. Glover uses these carefully to guide the musical intent, and honoring them transforms a competent performance into a convincing one.

Ideal for recital programming where you need pieces that appeal to audiences of all ages. The variety of styles also makes this collection useful for demonstrating different musical moods and techniques within a single lesson or rehearsal context. Students can perform individual selections throughout the year as they progress through the book.

• Recognizing and playing jazz rhythms and swing feels
• Interpreting dynamic markings and articulations for character
• Building confidence through early success with musically substantial material
• Developing independence of hands with varied textures and accompaniment patterns
• Understanding musical mood through style exploration (character pieces, jazz-influenced writing)