John W. Schaum Popular Piano Pieces, C: The Purple Book: Piano Book

The Purple Book delivers straight-ahead arrangements of songs students actually want to play, eliminating the usual gap between method work and real music. These pieces honor the original melodies while respecting the hand position and technical limitations of early intermediate pianists, so your students experience success without oversimplification.

Familiar, friendly, and instantly gratifying. Each arrangement captures the essential character of beloved melodies from film and popular music without pretension, letting young pianists experience the satisfaction of playing songs they know and love with appropriate musical care.

Early intermediate pianists (around Grade 2-3) who are ready to tackle popular standards but still need clear voice leading and manageable hand spans. This book works especially well for students in group lessons or studio settings who benefit from repertoire that feels rewarding to both player and listener.

• Shape the melody through careful attention to phrase direction rather than rushing tempo changes; let the natural contours of these familiar songs guide your touch.
• Balance the accompaniment texture by keeping left-hand patterns secondary to the vocal line; Schaum's writing invites clarity over complexity.
• Build confidence by performing these pieces for family or in informal settings first; the recognizable melodies make them ideal recital warm-ups.
• Explore dynamic contrast within each phrase to add expression; these songs respond well to subtle shaping that keeps tempo stable.

Pair these arrangements with scale work and technique studies at the same level to show how fundamentals connect to actual repertoire. They also serve well as supplementary recital pieces or informal performance opportunities, since audiences immediately connect with the material and students gain genuine confidence from recognition and applause.

• Playing major and minor keys with stable hand position
• Balancing melody and accompaniment texture
• Reading and sustaining longer melodic phrases
• Translating familiar songs into written notation
• Developing consistent finger independence in both hands
• Managing dynamic shaping within middle-range musical forms