Kids Rule! (2nd Edition): Piano Book

Coates understands what makes young pianists want to keep playing. These arrangements deliver recognizable movie and pop themes with accessible voicings that sound full without requiring advanced technique, so students hear themselves making real music from day one. The mix of film scores, beloved characters, and Broadway standards keeps the repertoire fresh across a full year of lessons.

Opening this book feels like stepping into a movie theater. Each arrangement carries the emotional signature of its source, from the sweeping grandeur of John Williams' orchestrations scaled for two hands, to the Broadway pizzazz of Razzle Dazzle, to the mysterious dark tone of Gollum's Song. Students hear echoes of memorable moments from their favorite stories.

Elementary and early intermediate pianists (typically ages 6-10) who respond to music they recognize from films, television, and popular culture. This book works beautifully for students who might otherwise lose interest in traditional beginner repertoire but light up when they can play themes from Star Wars, Harry Potter, or The Lord of the Rings.

• Balance melodic lines with accompaniment so themes stay clear even when hands cross or move between registers.
• Let tempo serve the music's character rather than rushing through faster passages; many of these pieces benefit from space and control.
• Lean into the storytelling quality of film themes by shaping phrases as if the melody is dialogue or a character's emotional arc.
• Experiment with pedal sparingly in the early arrangements and add it gradually as students develop ear and foot control.

Program a movement from this collection at a student recital or group performance to celebrate what young pianists can accomplish; families instantly recognize these themes and feel the achievement. Use individual pieces throughout the year as supplementary material alongside core method books to sustain motivation, or build an entire early-intermediate curriculum around film and pop themes for studios where traditional classical repertoire meets resistance.

• Reading big note notation with confidence and fluency
• Executing hand position shifts and crossing hand passages
• Maintaining steady tempo through melodic and accompaniment patterns
• Shaping musical phrases with dynamic control and phrasing
• Pedal awareness and basic pedal technique
• Recognizing and interpreting style cues from orchestral and theatrical sources