Play That Tune, Book 4: 31 Tunes to Sing and Play: Piano

Straightforward and inviting. These are tunes people know and want to play, arranged without unnecessary complexity or decoration. The melodies sit naturally under the fingers and reward clean, honest playing.

Students in early intermediate stages of piano study who benefit from repertoire that feels singable and approachable. Teachers looking for supplementary material that reinforces reading skills while keeping enthusiasm high through recognizable material.

• Sing the melody aloud while playing to internalize the line, then gradually let the fingers take over. This builds the connection between vocal expression and keyboard technique.
• Listen for where the melody wants to breathe. Mark those phrase endings lightly in pencil so you remember to lift gently rather than play straight through.
• Practice hands separately at first, especially if the left hand has any rhythmic independence. This prevents the melody from rushing when both hands enter together.

Use individual selections as sight-reading material during lesson warm-ups or as quick learning tasks between method book assignments. A few pieces work well for student recitals, especially when paired with accompaniment from a teacher or ensemble member.

• Reading simple melodies across both treble and bass clefs
• Basic left-hand accompaniment patterns
• Phrase awareness and musical phrasing at the keyboard
• Coordination of melody and accompaniment
• Sight-reading fluency with familiar material