Premier Piano Course, Masterworks 5: Piano Book & CD

Opening this book feels like stepping into a gallery of musical styles. From the architecture of Baroque counterpoint to the lyricism of Romantic melody to the playfulness of modern writing, each piece offers a distinct emotional and technical landscape.

Piano students at Level 5 who are ready to engage with standard repertoire across multiple periods. This book bridges the gap between simplified teaching pieces and the concert literature you'll encounter in later study.

• Pay close attention to the editorial markings for dynamics and phrasing, especially in pieces where the original notation was sparse. These additions guide you toward musical intent without removing your own interpretive choices.
• Use the recorded CD to hear how each piece can sound in performance. Listen multiple times with score in hand to internalize phrasing before you add your own voice.
• When pieces retain their original form, research the composer's style and period conventions. Understanding whether a piece is Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary shapes how you voice chords and shape phrases.
• Explore the provided Premier Performer suggestions actively rather than passively. They target specific measures and techniques, so isolate those sections and practice them deliberately.

Build a family recital or community concert around pieces from this collection, organizing them chronologically or thematically to help audiences hear how musical language evolved. You can also assign these pieces alongside your lesson book to deepen understanding of the concepts being introduced.

• Reading and executing editorial fingerings in classical and masterwork contexts
• Interpreting dynamic and phrasing markings across different stylistic periods
• Sustaining legato and controlling pedal in Romantic repertoire
• Executing clarity and precision in Baroque counterpoint
• Understanding period-appropriate articulation and ornamentation
• Preparing pieces for formal recital performance