Premier Piano Course, Lesson 6: Piano Book

This level offers a natural progression into stylistically rich territory without overwhelming students with technical complexity. The mixed meter focus and introduction of diminished triads and ii-V7-I progressions prepare students for repertoire they'll encounter in upper levels, while the mix of Romantic, Contemporary, and popular arrangements keeps engagement high and shows students how their technical skills apply across musical genres.

A doorway into the broader piano repertoire. The pieces move gracefully between the lyrical warmth of Romantic writing, the bold explorations of Contemporary music, and the infectious rhythms of jazz and familiar folk themes. There's a real sense of discovery as students encounter new harmonic colors and rhythmic complexities that feel achievable within their current abilities.

Level 6 students ready to deepen their understanding of harmony, rhythmic independence, and musical style. This book suits intermediate piano students who have solid fundamentals and are prepared to engage with diverse genres and more sophisticated harmonic concepts.

• Pay attention to the chord progression work in ii-V7-I sequences; practice these progressions separately before working them into context, then gradually increase tempo to build confidence.
• When tackling mixed meters, isolate passages where the time signature changes and count aloud through the transition before adding the melodic line.
• Explore the stylistic differences between Romantic and Contemporary pieces by listening to recorded performances; this helps inform your interpretation and phrasing choices.
• Use the TNT recordings available through alfred.com/ppcdownloads to hear how pieces should sound and to practice playing alongside accompaniments.

Assign this as the core lesson book for intermediate piano students over a full academic year, pacing lessons sequentially while allowing time for practice and reinforcement. Select individual pieces from the book for student recitals or studio performances, choosing pieces that highlight the stylistic variety students are learning. Use the popular music and folk arrangements as engagement points for students who might be losing interest in traditional pedagogical literature.

• Reading and performing in mixed meters (3/4 and 4/4 transitions within pieces)
• Constructing and recognizing diminished triads in various inversions
• Playing ii-V7-I chord progressions with fluency and independence
• Interpreting Romantic and Contemporary compositional styles through dynamic and tempo choices
• Understanding and performing jazz-influenced rhythmic patterns and articulation
• Expanding tonal vocabulary through exploration of additional scales and keys