John W. Schaum Piano Course, E: The Violet Book: Piano Book

The complete redesign respects what made this course essential in the first place while meeting current student expectations. Full-color illustrations and concept highlighting turn the page into a more engaging learning environment without sacrificing the clarity that made Schaum trusted by generations of teachers.

Pieces at this level balance exploration with confidence. Students encounter more varied textures, fuller harmonies, and longer musical phrases that allow them to experience the arc of a complete musical thought rather than brief exercises.

This book serves students in their third year of piano study who have developed foundational technique and are ready for greater rhythmic and harmonic independence. Teachers in private studios and school settings use Level E for students ready to explore more sophisticated musical content while continuing to build fundamental skills.

• Encourage students to observe the color highlighting as they practice; it marks structural moments and helps them recognize patterns across different pieces.
• Have students read through the lyrics of songs aloud before playing them through, which connects the music to language and makes phrasing feel more natural.
• Use the illustrations as conversation starters about the pieces; asking what mood or story each image suggests helps students find interpretive choices beyond the notes.

Teachers typically move through this book across an entire academic year, using individual pieces for student recitals or informal performance opportunities as they're mastered. The 48-page scope provides a natural progression for placement exams or advancement decisions within a school music curriculum.

• Reading treble and bass clef in combination across a wider range of the keyboard
• Playing in multiple keys beyond the five primary keys
• Managing longer phrase structures and shaping them musically
• Coordinating both hands independently in pieces with distinct melodic and accompaniment roles
• Interpreting dynamic and tempo markings that inform expressive choices