Premier Piano Course, Performance 3: Piano Book & CD

The level of harmonic and rhythmic variety packed into 32 pages is remarkable. Rather than drilling concepts in isolation, these pieces let students discover syncopation, swing rhythms, and chromatic movement within genuinely enjoyable musical contexts—everything from jazzy originals to clever classical adaptations. You get the bonus of integrated performance tips on the page itself, which means students can self-correct without constant teacher intervention.

A collection with genuine personality. The piece selection spans from swinging, contemporary sounds to refined classical arrangements, so every student finds something that sparks their interest. The rhythmic sophistication feels like a real step up, yet the melodies remain singable and the overall difficulty stays accessible.

Level 3 piano students who are ready to move beyond basic rhythms and simple harmonic progressions. This book pairs directly with the corresponding Premier Piano Course Lesson Book 3, making it ideal for private studio teachers following Alfred's structured curriculum.

• Listen to the included CD before assigning each piece. Hearing the musical character, tempo, and rhythmic feel gives students a clear target and prevents them from inventing incorrect interpretations.
• Pay particular attention to pieces introducing pass-under and cross-over fingerings. Have students slow down and isolate these passages, then gradually increase tempo only after the finger pattern feels automatic.
• When encountering swing rhythms, tap the underlying beat first, then layer in the swing interpretation. Without a solid pulse underneath, the syncopation becomes muddy.
• Use the ledger line pieces as reading reinforcement. These are not sight-reading challenges; they're opportunities to build fluency above and below the staff with material students already enjoy playing.

These pieces work beautifully in studio recitals where you want to showcase student progress without overwhelming them. You can also select individual pieces to assign alongside corresponding lessons in the Lesson Book, building performance fluency in tandem with technique and theory study.

• Playing syncopated rhythms with security and confidence
• Executing swing rhythms and dotted rhythm patterns
• Reading ledger lines above and below the staff
• Pass-under and cross-over scale fingerings
• Chromatic scale passages
• IV chords in C, G, F, and D major