Mastering the Piano, Level 2: Piano Book & CD

Lloyd-Watts has selected masterworks that sound substantial without overwhelming early intermediate pianists. The CD recordings provide a musical model performed with mature interpretation, showing your students what thoughtful phrasing and control sound like at each piece.

Opening this collection feels like stepping into a gallery of musical moments, each carefully framed for clarity and impact. The pieces carry the weight and beauty of the great masters, yet the writing breathes at a pace that lets students digest each phrase without strain. Each selection builds a sense of real accomplishment: not the hollow victory of playing something easy, but the genuine reward of bringing a grown piece to life.

Early intermediate pianists ready for works beyond simplified arrangements. This book also serves teachers seeking authentic masterwork repertoire that doesn't require a steep technical leap from foundational studies. Students in this range benefit from the dual input of printed music and expert performance modeling.

• Listen to the CD performance before your student does. Note where Lloyd-Watts shapes the phrase, where tempo subtly shifts, and where rubato creates breathing room. Then guide your student's ear to those same moments.
• Use the recorded performance as a reference point for interpretation, not a blueprint to copy. Encourage your student to notice what Lloyd-Watts does and then make conscious choices about their own tempo and phrasing.
• The patterning built into each piece supports memorization. Have your student identify the repeated rhythmic or harmonic structures before drilling technique, so muscle memory and musical understanding develop together.
• Balance listening with reading. Some students will want to hear the CD first and play later; others need to know the page before hearing it. There's no single right sequence; follow your student's learning style.

Assign repertoire from this collection as solo recital material in the late fall or early spring; the pieces are accessible enough to prepare in 6 to 8 weeks without rushing. You might also program one or two pieces at a student recital to showcase the range of styles your intermediate students are tackling.

• Reading and interpreting masterwork repertoire at the early intermediate level
• Developing musical phrasing and rubato through listening and imitation
• Memorizing pieces through recognition of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns
• Building interpretive independence by comparing personal choices to a professional model
• Managing medium-length compositions with varied textures and dynamic range