Premier Piano Course, Duet 6: Piano Book

This collection strikes the balance every Level 6 teacher needs: reinforcement without repetition. The composers have written pieces that feel genuinely satisfying to play rather than like exercises in disguise, and the equally leveled parts mean both students stay engaged and neither one is stuck with filler. The genre variety (jazz, ragtime, Romantic, Contemporary) keeps students curious about what comes next.

This collection spans moods with ease: the energy of "Friday Night Jazz" and "Wildflower Rag" contrasts beautifully with the reflective quality of "Reflections in the Waves" and "Romance in A-flat Major." Pachelbel's Canon, arranged here for four hands, arrives as a moment of recognition and beauty, while pieces like "The Great Expanse" and "Baltic Dance" introduce students to the colors that open up at this level of the course.

Students completing Level 6 of the Premier Piano Course who are ready to experience the reward of playing real music with a friend or family member. These duets appeal to students who respond well to guided exploration of different styles and forms, and who benefit from the accountability that ensemble playing brings.

• Balance the melodic material as it passes between primo and secondo. Mark in your score where each hand takes the lead, and remind students that "accompanying" doesn't mean playing softer.
• In the jazz and ragtime pieces, establish a steady tempo in a brief practice run-through before beginning. These styles depend on rhythmic confidence, and a wavering pulse undermines the fun.
• Use the equally leveled parts as an opportunity to swap roles in a second pass-through. Students build different skills hearing the piece from a new position, and it reinforces how the parts relate to each other.
• Draw attention to the shared melodic material in rehearsal. Understanding where themes migrate between hands helps students listen more actively and prepares them for more complex score reading ahead.

Feature one or two duets on a studio recital where you pair students of similar ability; the shared melodic material and equal difficulty levels make for confident, polished performances. The stylistic range also allows you to program a duet across different parts of a larger concert, using them to shift mood or tempo without needing to pause for page turns or instrument changes.

• Reading and performing four-hand ensemble parts with independent rhythmic and melodic content
• Coordinating tempo and phrasing with a partner across shared musical material
• Playing in multiple styles: jazz swing, ragtime, Romantic lyricism, and contemporary idioms
• Balancing ensemble sound between primo and secondo voices
• Recognizing and performing Romantic and Contemporary compositional forms