Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Selections from: Piano Book

Dan Coates has arranged these selections with real understanding of what intermediate pianists can handle and what will sound genuinely satisfying to play. The themes are strong enough to carry the pieces even in simplified form, and the addition of fingering and pedal markings means less guesswork and more time actually making music. Students who love the film get immediate access to its most memorable moments, which is powerful motivation for practice.

These pieces capture the sense of wonder and adventure that runs through the film, with moments of whimsy alongside darker, more mysterious passages. The melodies have the spacious, orchestral quality of film scoring, which gives piano versions an inherent sophistication; you're not just playing exercises, you're inhabiting the world of the film. There's real emotional payoff in bringing these themes to life at the keyboard.

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond beginner repertoire but not yet at advanced levels will find these arrangements perfectly calibrated. Students who have seen the film and want to play its music will find genuine film themes here, not watered-down imitations. This collection works equally well for self-teaching pianists and for lesson-based study.

• Let the melodies sing through clearly; these are recognizable themes that audiences want to hear, so resist the urge to rush or bury the tune under accompaniment figures.
• Honor the pedal markings provided. They're included to help you achieve the fuller, richer sound that makes these film themes work on piano.
• Pay attention to the character suggested by each title. "Blind Pig" calls for a different mood than "Jacob's Bakery," and small adjustments to tempo and touch will bring out what's distinctive in each piece.
• Practice hands separately until you're confident with both parts, especially where the left hand carries important harmonic movement that supports the melody's emotional arc.

A student recital centered on film and popular music finds natural home for several of these pieces, especially "Jacob's Bakery" as a lighter moment or "End Titles" as a show-closing finale. Pair them with other intermediate film scores to build a themed program, or use individual selections as rewards for students who've completed more demanding technical work. They're also excellent candidates for a casual performance or coffee-house style event where audiences appreciate accessible, recognizable music.

• Reading and executing pedal markings for color and resonance
• Balancing melody and accompaniment to ensure thematic clarity
• Maintaining even tempo while navigating varied textures and hand positions
• Interpreting character and mood through touch and phrasing choices
• Building confidence with intermediate-level left-hand accompaniment patterns