Jazzy Rags: Intermediate/Late Intermediate Piano Book

Bober understands the rhythmic precision ragtime demands, and she's written these pieces to make that challenge feel achievable and fun. The cross-hand arpeggios and independent melody lines give your intermediate students real technical work without the frustration of overly dense jazz harmony. You get authentic ragtime character with inventive compositions that keep performers engaged from first note to last.

There's a joyful swagger to these rags. The melodies dance across the keyboard with the characteristic syncopation that makes ragtime instantly recognizable, while the accompaniment patterns pulse with rhythmic vitality. Playing through them, you feel the intersection of careful craft and genuine musical personality that makes Bober's writing so satisfying.

Intermediate to late intermediate pianists ready to tackle authentic ragtime style without the harmonic complexity of Scott Joplin's originals. Students with solid right-hand facility and developing left-hand independence will find these pieces rewarding to master. This collection works equally well for private studio students and those in group piano settings.

• Establish the syncopation clearly before tackling tempo; count through the tricky left-hand rhythms separately until they feel natural under the right hand's melody
• Mark your hand crossings visually on the score so students anticipate the shift rather than scrambling through it
• Record yourself playing a section and have students listen for how the syncopation sits slightly behind the beat; this trains the ear faster than explanation alone
• Practice the arpeggios at a slower tempo with deliberate finger independence; rushing these passages muddies the rhythmic clarity Bober's writing requires

Feature these pieces on a student recital to showcase how ragtime extends beyond historical repertoire into contemporary composition. The collection's intermediate level makes it ideal for programming diversity without overshadowing more technically demanding works. Alternatively, use individual selections as technical studies focused on cross-hand coordination and syncopated rhythm; they're structured to address these skills while remaining musically engaging enough that students don't feel like they're working through etudes.

• Cross-hand arpeggios with evenness and clarity
• Syncopated rhythm in both hands with independence
• Right-hand melody articulation over left-hand accompaniment patterns
• Ragtime rhythmic character and swing feel
• Finger independence and precision in repeated accompaniment figures