I Love a Piano: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: I Love a Piano: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-5803
Price: 2.20 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Irving Berlin / arr. Don Besig and Nancy Price

Item: 00-5803

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Don Besig and Nancy Price have done it again! It's a partner song with one of Irving Berlin's all-time favorites: "I Love a Piano". Don and Nancy's clever text fits perfectly with their bouncy new melody, and both complement the original tune. The piano accompaniment calls for two players at one piano. Or use the SoundTrax cassette which features a ragtime piano and banjo feel.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I Love a Piano: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 038081016689

SKU: 00-5803

More about this title

About the Composer: Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin (1888, 1989) wrote some of the most enduring songs in American popular music, from "Alexander's Ragtime Band" to "White Christmas." His melodies have a directness and charm that made them instant standards, and his ability to capture a moment in time through song secured his place as a foundational figure in American songwriting. For music educators, Berlin's catalog offers accessible, high-energy material that students recognize and enjoy learning.

Berlin's compositional approach prioritized singability and immediate appeal. His harmonies sit naturally in the voice, his rhythms feel inevitable, and his lyrics land with humor or warmth. These qualities make his work ideal for building student confidence and engagement in the choral program.

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Why we love this

Besig and Price understood exactly what makes Berlin's original tick, and they've layered a new melody and text on top that stand as equals rather than eclipsing what came before. The ragtime character comes through clearly, and pairing it with a partner song gives your group an immediate sense of accomplishment. Two pianos add production value without demanding virtuoso accompanists.

What to expect

Bouncy and spirited, with the unmistakable ragtime swagger of early 20th-century popular music. There's a lightness here; this isn't heavy lifting, but it's genuinely joyful and playful. The combination of the beloved original tune with new material creates a sense of discovery alongside familiarity.

Who it's for

Choirs at the middle school or early high school level will find this accessible and fun. It works for groups that need confidence-building material and audiences that respond to upbeat, recognizable Americana.

How to get the most out of it

Treat the accompaniment as a character itself. If you use the recorded version, listen together as a group to hear how the banjo and ragtime feel should influence your phrasing and energy.
Balance the two melodic lines carefully in rehearsal so neither overwhelms. Blend matters more here than volume.
Build in the movement and staging elements early. These students need to sing and move in sync, so choreography shouldn't be an afterthought.
Lock the rhythmic precision first. Ragtime lives in crisp articulation and tight rhythmic alignment between parts.

How to use it

This is a natural spring concert closer or a pops program anchor. Use it after you've built stamina and ensemble cohesion through the year, since the performance demands coordination across voice parts and body movement. It also pairs well with other American songbook material if you're building a nostalgia or Americana-themed concert.