Keynotes, Grade 1-2: Piano Book

Lenehan's curation moves past the predictable Grade 1-2 canon. Pairing Bach polonaises with Rowley's "On a Motorbike" and Ornstein's "My, What a Din the Cuckoos Are Making!" gives students genuine stylistic variety without sacrificing musical coherence. The practical footnotes embedded throughout show a teacher's hand at work, anticipating questions before they arise.

A cabinet of small treasures spanning three centuries. One moment you're playing a Bach menuet with its geometric precision, the next you're depicting a cuckoo's chaos or a child's stubborn streak. The pieces feel like windows into different musical worlds rather than stepping stones toward something bigger.

Beginning pianists in their first or second year of study who need more than drill-like exercises but aren't ready for full sonatas. Teachers seeking to build musicality and style awareness from the ground up will find this collection invaluable for supplementing method books.

• Study the footnotes first. They often clarify fingering choices or interpretive details that would take far longer to discover through trial alone.
• Use pieces like "Bear Dance" and "Storm in a Teacup" to explore character and storytelling early. The titles are deliberate invitations to shape tone and tempo with intention.
• Alternate between Baroque and Romantic repertoire within practice sessions to develop your ear for different harmonic languages and ornamentation styles.
• Don't rush the improvisation prompts. Even at this level, they build confidence and independence away from the printed page.

Assign individual pieces as recital repertoire for early-level students, selecting contrasting pairs (a Baroque dance followed by a character piece) for balance. The collection also works as a supplementary sight-reading and musicianship resource throughout the school year, introducing students to composers and styles they'll encounter later.

• Stylistic awareness across Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century idioms
• Character interpretation through tempo, dynamics, and articulation
• Ornamentation and historical performance conventions
• Basic improvisation and creative problem-solving at the keyboard
• Sight-reading fluency across varied musical forms and textures