Pop! Goes the Piano, Book 2: Keyboard Styles on the Light Side: Piano

This collection recognizes that intermediate students thrive when they can explore real musical genres rather than abstract technical exercises. Olson's jazz, pop, Latin, country, and blues pieces are written with genuine stylistic character, not simplified imitations, which means students learn actual musical conventions they'll encounter in the wider world. The variety ensures there's something for every student's taste, making practice time feel less like obligation and more like discovery.

This book radiates accessibility and joy. Each piece arrives fully formed with its own personality, whether it's the relaxed groove of a blues number, the rhythmic swagger of a pop tune, or the warmth of a ballad. The writing is clean and grateful under the hands, inviting students to focus on musical expression rather than technical survival.

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond classical solos and explore how composers write in contemporary genres. Students preparing for festival performances, recitals, or simply looking for repertoire that matches their musical interests outside classical training will find real substance here.

• Study the rhythmic grooves specific to each style. The Latin pieces won't swing the same way the jazz selections do, and the country pieces demand a different feel entirely. Spend time listening to authentic recordings in each genre to internalize the rhythmic DNA.
• Honor the harmonic language Olson uses in each piece. Jazz voicings need space and independence between the hands; pop writing often thrives on a tighter, cleaner attack; blues pieces benefit from rubato and swing feel. Let the harmony guide your interpretive choices.
• Balance technical accuracy with stylistic authenticity. These pieces aren't about flashy technique; they're about communicating a mood and a groove. Nail the fundamentals, then allow yourself to bend the tempo slightly and lean into the character of each style.

These pieces work beautifully in casual performance settings, student showcases, or mixed recitals where you want to demonstrate the range of what your students study. A jazz piece paired with a classical selection shows pianists as complete musicians. The variety also makes this collection ideal for students preparing multiple festival selections across different genre categories in the same season.

• Playing authentic stylistic grooves in jazz, pop, Latin, country, and blues idioms
• Interpreting contemporary harmonic language and jazz voicings
• Coordinating hands independently across different rhythmic and textural patterns by style
• Developing touch and tone variation appropriate to each genre
• Building comfort with swing rhythm, syncopation, and rubato in non-classical contexts