Premier Piano Course, Jazz, Rags & Blues 6: Piano Book

Mier writes music that teaches through engagement rather than drill. Level 6 students encounter genuine stylistic variety here—ragtime, boogie, and blues—each piece reinforcing specific concepts from the corresponding lesson without feeling like a worksheet. The inclusion of 'See You Around Blues' as a Federation Festivals selection signals that these are pieces worth performing, not just practicing.

These pieces sound like the real thing, even at the level where technical demands are still modest. When a student plays 'See You Around Blues,' they're not approximating the style; they're inhabiting it. The variety across the book keeps students curious about what comes next.

Level 6 pianists working through the Premier Piano Course who need stylistically rich repertoire that connects directly to their lesson material. Teachers looking for performance pieces that introduce authentic jazz, blues, and ragtime language without oversimplifying these genres.

• Shape the blues tonality with subtle dynamics; the flattened scale degrees that define the style need room to breathe and won't land if you play straight through at one volume.
• Let ragtime syncopations sit slightly behind the beat rather than rushing them; the off-beat accents shine when the underlying pulse feels steady.
• Use the page-by-page correlation with Lesson Book 6 to time the introduction of each piece exactly when its technical or harmonic concepts are fresh.
• Record yourself playing a few of these pieces and listen for clarity in the comping figures that often accompany the melody; jazz and blues grooves depend on transparent voicings.

Slot individual pieces into student recitals throughout the year as students complete corresponding lessons in Lesson Book 6; this ensures repertoire feels immediately relevant and manageable. Consider programming 'See You Around Blues' as a centerpiece for a spring recital or festival appearance, since it carries festival recognition. A cluster of these pieces works beautifully for a studio recital themed around American musical traditions.

• Playing syncopated rhythms with precision and swing feel
• Understanding and executing jazz harmony and blues tonality
• Voicing chords in ragtime and boogie styles
• Phrasing and interpreting non-classical styles with musical authority
• Reinforcing technique from Premier Piano Course Lesson Book 6 through stylistically engaging context