Michael Aaron Piano Course: Performance, Grade 2: Piano Book

These Performance books do what the Aaron method does best: they take students' growing technical facility and give them genuinely musical material to play. By staying true to Aaron's original compositions and teaching philosophy, the Performance series ensures that Grade 2 students aren't just practicing exercises; they're building interpretive skills on pieces they'll actually enjoy performing.

Approachable and encouraging. These pieces respect what early-intermediate students can do while avoiding the trite or overly simplistic. There's a clarity and directness to Aaron's writing that makes each piece feel complete and satisfying to play, even at this level.

Grade 2 pianists working through the Michael Aaron lesson sequence will find this Performance book aligns perfectly with their technical and musical development. Teachers using the Aaron method will recognize these pieces as the ideal complement to corresponding lesson material, offering performance experience without requiring outside repertoire.

• Balance tone production across both hands, especially when the melody moves between right and left hand parts. Aaron's writing often layers the musical line in unexpected places, so listen actively to where the tune lives.
• Pay attention to the phrase shapes Aaron built into each piece. These compositions may look simple on the page, but they contain natural breathing points and contours that reward thoughtful shaping.
• Establish consistent tempo before adding any dynamic expression. Aaron's Grade 2 material is designed to strengthen rhythmic security, so lock in the pulse first, then color it.

Use these pieces for student recitals, studio classes, or home performance practice throughout the year. Since the book contains 24 pages of material, teachers can space performances across multiple events or select standout pieces for a focused recital program.

• Hand independence in melody and accompaniment patterns
• Consistent rhythmic accuracy in compound meters and syncopation
• Phrase recognition and musical shaping over multiple measures
• Dynamic control and tone matching between registers
• Secure reading of both treble and bass clefs in practical contexts