It Gets Better: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures songs that students genuinely want to learn, which matters. The piano arrangements stay true to the recorded versions while remaining playable for intermediate players, and the inclusion of vocal melody, lyrics, and chord grids makes it equally useful whether you're teaching the piano part, accompanying a vocalist, or supporting a guitarist. It's the kind of music that creates genuine excitement in the practice room.

Modern pop optimism mixed with introspection. These songs balance hook-driven melodies with genuine emotional depth, and the piano arrangements give them room to breathe. There's an earnestness here that connects with young musicians in a way that feels immediate and relevant.

Pianists and singers who grew up with these songs and want to play them properly, as well as music teachers working with intermediate students hungry for contemporary music that sounds professional and polished. This collection works for anyone preparing solo repertoire, accompanying vocalists, or exploring how pop songwriting translates to written arrangement.

• Balance the vocal melody against the piano accompaniment; these arrangements support rather than overshadow the voice, so resist the urge to play heavily in the upper register.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic pocket in the piano part. Many of these songs rely on groove and repetition rather than elaborate figuration, so locking in the feel matters more than technical flashiness.
• Use the chord grids to inform your touch and voicing choices. Understanding the harmonic movement underneath helps shape phrasing and dynamics across the full arrangement.

Feature individual songs in recitals or student showcases; contemporary music programming draws audiences and validates student taste. Solo pianists can build an entire recital around several selections, or work with a vocalist and guitarist to create small ensemble arrangements for a pops concert or informal performance.

• Reading and interpreting chord symbols in a commercial arrangement context
• Balancing written melody and accompaniment texture as a pianist
• Sight-reading contemporary pop songwriting with straightforward but effective harmonic movement
• Coordinating vocal line with piano and guitar parts in a trio setting