Please Feed the Animals: Late Elementary/Early Intermediate Piano Book

A menagerie told in music. One moment you're inside the jittery energy of a woodpecker, the next you're moving with the stately calm of an egret. The varied moods and styles keep both player and listener engaged, turning the page feels like meeting a new character with a story to tell.

Students in late elementary and early intermediate piano who are ready to move beyond single-character or single-style repertoire but still need pieces that are achievable without years of technical refinement. This book works for students working toward recitals, competitions, or simply building a diverse performance portfolio.

• Study the character name before you play. Let "A Worried Weasel" or "An Elegant Egret" guide your tempo choices and touch; the music will follow.
• Experiment with the range of each piece. Poe uses register strategically to reinforce personality, so pay attention to where the melody sits and why.
• Vary your tempo within the piece if the meter or mood shifts. These aren't one-speed compositions; they reward thoughtful pacing choices.

String several pieces together for a recital program that tells a playful story without becoming cutesy. The stylistic variety also makes this collection ideal for introducing students to different musical idioms (march, dance, ballad, humor) within a single, cohesive set.

• Reading varied meters and tempi markings
• Characterization through tempo, dynamics, and articulation
• Phrase shaping and pacing in contrasting styles
• Range navigation across the keyboard
• Expressive playing beyond technical accuracy