Play That Tune, Book 3: Piano Book

A collection of well-loved melodies rendered approachable without being trivial. The piano writing supports the voice naturally rather than competing with it, creating an encouraging experience where singers feel capable and pianists feel they have meaningful accompaniment to play.

Piano students at the intermediate beginner level who are ready to play and sing simultaneously, as well as young singers developing confidence at the keyboard. Teachers seeking supplementary material for students who benefit from familiar melodies paired with straightforward but complete piano writing will find this collection particularly useful.

• Balance the melody with accompaniment so the tune sits clearly above the texture, especially in passages where both hands carry musical weight.
• Sing through the piece first at the piano without playing, then gradually layer the accompaniment in, building coordination between voice and hands.
• Pay attention to phrase breathing in the vocal line; use natural pauses in the tune to reset hand position or adjust dynamics.
• Tempo consistency matters more than speed; establish a steady pulse before adding expressive timing, which often reads better when underplayed.

Integrate individual pieces into student recitals as short, confident selections that allow young musicians to showcase both singing and playing in one piece. The variety of tunes makes this ideal for assembling a short concert set or for distributing across a season of private lessons.

• Coordinating melody singing with independent piano accompaniment
• Reading a score that combines vocal and keyboard parts simultaneously
• Maintaining steady tempo while managing two musical lines
• Phrasing vocal melody while supporting it with harmonic foundation