Pathways to Artistry: Repertoire, Book 2: Piano Book

Rollin writes with a keen understanding of what late elementary and early intermediate pianists need: pieces that sound genuinely musical while building specific technical foundations. The 15 original works span four stylistic periods, so students encounter Baroque clarity, Classical form, Romantic expression, and contemporary idioms all within a single book that feels cohesive rather than fragmented.

Opening this book feels like stepping into a gallery where each piece represents a different era of music history. Rollin's originals capture the character of their periods without pastiche; you'll find the graceful balance of a Baroque invention, the structured elegance of a Classical sonatina-style piece, the lyrical warmth of a Romantic miniature, and the fresh energy of a contemporary work, all written directly for the developing hands of a young pianist.

This book serves late elementary and early intermediate piano students who are ready to move beyond basic exercises and explore different musical styles. It works equally well for students following a traditional method series or for those whose teachers prefer a repertoire-based curriculum.

• Study the stylistic period marked at the top of each piece before you begin; Rollin's writing style shifts noticeably between Baroque counterpoint and Romantic pedal effects, so your approach to tone and phrasing should shift too.
• Practice the technical figures in isolation (scales, alberti patterns, hand crossings) until they feel automatic; Rollin embeds skill work seamlessly into the music, so fluency in these patterns lets the melody sing through.
• Shape phrases by thinking about the underlying harmonic motion rather than counting beats; this trains your ear to understand form while you're learning the piece.

Use Book 2 to build a diverse recital program where each student can showcase a piece from a different stylistic period. The book also pairs naturally with the Pathways to Artistry companion technique book, creating a unified curriculum that introduces skills and immediately applies them in meaningful musical contexts.

• Playing across stylistic periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, contemporary)
• Interpreting Baroque counterpoint and voice independence
• Recognizing and executing Classical phrase structures and symmetry
• Shaping Romantic melody with pedal and dynamic nuance
• Reading contemporary notations and harmonic language
• Coordinating hand independence in patterns like alberti bass and hand crossings
• Sustaining lyrical lines while maintaining technical clarity