In Recital® for the Advancing Pianist, Popular, Book 2: Piano Book

Marlais and her arrangers have curated popular music that actually sounds sophisticated on the piano rather than dumbed-down. The arrangements respect the original character of each piece while giving students meaningful technical work that transfers directly to their classical repertoire.

Familiar melodies and grooves rendered in ways that feel fresh and pianistic. These arrangements invite students into music they already love while demanding the precision and control that characterizes serious piano study.

Pianists working at the early advanced level who want to explore music beyond the classical canon without sacrificing musical substance. This collection bridges the gap between technical studies and repertoire that genuinely engages teenage and adult students.

• Balance articulation across both hands; popular arrangements often demand cleaner voices than students expect, especially in the left hand accompaniment.
• Listen to multiple recorded versions of the original songs before practicing. Understanding the song's phrasing and groove makes the written page come alive.
• Mark dynamic shapes in pencil before the first reading. Popular music in arrangements like these often needs subtle dynamic control to prevent sounding flat.

Program individual selections in student recitals to showcase range and engagement, or use the collection as spring material when students need motivation and momentum. A book like this also works beautifully as supplementary repertoire alongside Bach and Beethoven, reminding students why they fell in love with music in the first place.

• Voicing and balance in arranged textures
• Rhythmic independence between hands in syncopated accompaniment patterns
• Pedal control in sustained harmonic contexts
• Interpretation of articulation markings in non-classical styles
• Sight-reading fluency across varied rhythmic figures