Piece by Piece, Book 1: Piano Book

Name: Piece by Piece, Book 1: Piano Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-37732
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock

8 Early Intermediate Color Pieces for Solo Piano

By Tom Gerou

Level: Early Intermediate

Item: 00-37732

$7.99

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These original piano solos are meant to afford early intermediate students the opportunity to explore a variety of styles, techniques, textures, and moods. Titles: Days Gone By * Delightful Dreams * A Fine Day * No Long Goodbyes * Old Castile * Paisley Patterns * Tritone Blues * Willows. A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.

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1 01_Willows --:--

2 02_No Long Goodbyes --:--

3 03_Paisley Patterns --:--

4 04_Tritone Blues --:--

5 05_Old Castile --:--

6 06_A Fine Day --:--

7 07_Delightful Dreams --:--

8 08_Days Gone By --:--

9 Old Castile --:--

10 Tritone Blues --:--

01_Willows

Series: Piece by Piece

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 24

ISBN10: 0-7390-8234-5

ISBN13: 978-0-7390-8234-8

UPC: 038081422732

SKU: 00-37732

More about this title

About the Composer: Tom Gerou

Tom Gerou has established himself as one of the most prolific and versatile composers and music authors working today, with over 160 publications across multiple genres and formats. His background in composition from USC and Yale, combined with decades of classroom experience, informs work that speaks directly to teachers' needs, whether through foundational reference texts like the Essential Dictionary of Music Notation and Essential Dictionary of Orchestration or through accessible original compositions and arrangements that have become fixtures in piano studios across the country.

Gerou's commissions and awards reflect his standing in the music education community. He has received recognition from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, earned a Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and contributed to high-profile collaborative projects with the North Dakota Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association. His workshop presentations have reached educators throughout North America, Australia, and across Asia.

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Why we love this

Gerou balances stylistic variety with genuine musical interest in every piece. Rather than treating early intermediate as a stepping stone, he writes with the same compositional intention he applies to all his work, ensuring that students encounter real musical voices, blues inflections, impressionistic textures, lyrical phrases, rather than exercises dressed as songs.

What to expect

This collection spans from reflective and wistful moods to energetic and playful ones, with enough textural variety to keep the ear engaged across a full recital set. Students will feel the difference between a blues-inflected piece and an impressionistic one, discovering that style and technique are inseparable.

Who it's for

Early intermediate pianists preparing for recitals or festivals will find a genuine collection here, one that respects their growing technical confidence while offering stylistic exploration beyond traditional classical progressions. Teachers looking to build recital programming that challenges without overwhelming will appreciate the variety across eight distinct pieces.

How to get the most out of it

Approach each piece as a distinct character study. The stylistic range demands that you discover what makes Tritone Blues different from Old Castile, then communicate that difference clearly.
Use the title as a gateway to interpretation. Paisley Patterns invites you to explore texture and shimmer; No Long Goodbyes suggests something more wistful and measured.
Build independence between hands gradually. Several of these pieces layer textures that require confident coordination without rushing the tempo.
Record yourself practicing. Hearing the complete texture back, rather than just feeling it from the bench, helps you refine balance and phrasing.

How to use it

Pair selections from this book with a classical or contemporary solo to build a balanced student recital program. The stylistic diversity also makes it valuable for festival preparation, since a single piece from the collection can showcase a student's versatility without requiring a full theme-and-variations approach.