Melody's Choice, Book 2: Late Elementary/Early Intermediate Piano Book

Bober curates material across multiple collections and themes, so this book functions as a greatest-hits compilation that students genuinely want to play. The variety of styles keeps practice sessions fresh while the literary and poetic connections deepen musicality beyond pure technique.

These pieces range from lighthearted romp to atmospheric storytelling. You'll move between moments of genuine fun and passages that ask for deeper musical expression, all at a level that doesn't overwhelm technical foundations.

This collection belongs in the hands of late elementary and early intermediate pianists who benefit from curated variety rather than exhaustive single-topic workbooks. Students ready to explore different moods and textures will find familiar voices from Bober's other collections all in one place.

• Listen to how each piece establishes its character within the first few measures; use those opening gestures to set the tone for the entire performance.
• Pay attention to the text or poetic content paired with each piece; let the imagery inform your phrasing and dynamic choices rather than treating it as decoration.
• When moving between contrasting styles within the collection, allow adequate time between pieces to reset your musical focus and let the audience absorb what they just heard.

Use this collection as the core material for a spring or fall recital that showcases range without requiring students to master complex theory concepts. The variety also makes it ideal for building a practice routine that keeps advancing students mentally engaged across multiple lessons.

• Stylistic contrast and expressive interpretation across folk, character, and contemporary idioms
• Coordination of melody and accompaniment patterns at the intermediate level
• Connecting poetic or narrative text to musical phrasing and dynamic shape
• Sight-reading facility across multiple keys and time signatures
• Program planning and recital performance preparation