Leroy Anderson: Piano Book

Brimhall's arrangements capture the signature charm of Anderson's original orchestral works while making them fully accessible at the piano. These pieces fit naturally into recital programs without feeling reductive or overly simplified; they retain their wit and character in keyboard form. A pianist working through this book gains exposure to compositional craft that emphasizes melody, phrasing, and rhythmic clarity without technical obstacles that would obscure the music itself.

These arrangements sparkle with humor and warmth. You'll encounter bluesy tangos, whimsical orchestral pictures rendered for two hands, and rhythmic games that feel like conversations between different characters. There's lightness throughout, yet the music never feels trivial; instead, it invites you to play with expression and imagination while the straightforward notation stays out of your way.

This collection serves pianists in late elementary through early intermediate levels who are ready to move beyond technical studies into music with real personality. It works equally well for students preparing for recitals, competing at festivals, or simply discovering the joy of playing music that brings immediate musical satisfaction. Young pianists and amateur adult students will find pieces that challenge their musicianship without overwhelming their technical capacity.

• Observe the stylistic variety across the collection. Blue Tango demands smooth legato playing and rubato; The Typewriter requires crisp articulation and rhythmic precision. Treat each piece as its own character study rather than moving mechanically through the book.
• Bring out melodic voices clearly in pieces like Forgotten Dreams and A Trumpeter's Lullaby. The left hand often carries important harmonic support, but the right hand must sing with conviction and awareness of phrase shape.
• Use the title as your guide to interpretation. Sleigh Ride calls for energy and forward motion; Plink, Plank, Plunk! needs playfulness and separation; The Waltzing Cat invites elegance and lilting rhythm.
• Practice the rhythmic figures in Jazz Pizzacato and Fiddle-Faddle carefully. Their syncopation and offbeat accents require steady pulse and confidence so the humor lands without sounding sloppy.

Feature individual pieces in student recitals to showcase different moods and styles in a single program. Pair a few of these with classical sonata movements or romantic miniatures to create programs that balance substance and charm. The collection also works well as repertoire for community performances or school talent showcases, where the recognizable titles and accessible difficulty level invite both participants and audiences to engage fully.

• Clear melodic phrasing and control of dynamic shape
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures and offbeat accents
• Legato and staccato articulation in contrasting musical contexts
• Balance between melody and accompaniment
• Stylistic flexibility across light classical, jazz-influenced, and character piece idioms