Premier Piano Course, Performance 6: Piano Book & CD

The range of styles here—ballads, rock, ragtime, and Classical through Contemporary masterworks—gives students genuine ownership over their musical voice at Level 6. Rather than treating popular and art music as separate tracks, the book insists they belong together, which builds musical maturity and keeps intermediate students engaged. The dual-tempo recordings (performance and practice speeds) remove the guessing game from tempo and let students focus entirely on interpretation.

Moving through this book feels like opening doors into different musical worlds. One moment you're riding the swagger of ragtime; the next you're navigating the harmonic depth of a Romantic ballad. The music rewards attention to detail—dynamics, articulation, pedal choices—while remaining musically satisfying even in early attempts.

Intermediate pianists ready to expand beyond a single pedagogical approach and explore the full spectrum of keyboard repertoire. Students at this level benefit from the eclectic mix because it trains stylistic flexibility while keeping technical growth steady and purposeful.

• Listen to both tempos on the included CD before playing. The performance tempo shows you the full musical shape; the practice tempo gives your hands permission to slow down as you master the technical demands.
• Study the performance tips printed in the book for each piece. These are specific to style and articulation, not generic—they'll deepen how you understand what the composer wanted to hear.
• Record yourself and compare it to the performance tempo. This trains your ear to recognize where your timing, tone, or phrasing differs from the goal.

Use Performance 6 as the core repertoire for your Level 6 students throughout the year, mixing pieces into studio recitals and informal performances. The variety means you can always find something that fits the mood of a season or balances a program; ragtime pieces add energy and humor, while the Classical and Romantic selections provide substance and show growth.

• Harmonic vocabulary across Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary idioms
• Stylistic differentiation between ballad, rock, and ragtime approaches
• Pedal technique and tone control across varied textures
• Reading and interpreting performance annotations specific to each piece's style
• Independence between hands in more complex accompaniment patterns