Remember the Time: Easy Piano

Dan Coates has stripped these massive hits down to their melodic and harmonic essences without sacrificing what makes them instantly recognizable. Pianists get to own these songs rather than just play along, and the Easy level means students stay engaged with the material instead of struggling through it.

These arrangements capture the essence of Jackson's rhythmic drive and melodic sophistication while keeping the technical demands modest. You'll feel the funk, the rock edges, and the pop hooks that made these songs radio staples.

Easy Piano students who want to play contemporary music that feels current and relevant, not dated. Pianists at this level get immediate satisfaction from recognizing a beloved song within bars of the opening.

• Keep the groove steady on syncopated rhythms; these songs breathe through their pocket, not through rubato or hesitation
• Use the left hand to establish the song's characteristic feel, whether that's the walking bass line of a groove or the push-pull of the accompaniment pattern
• Lock into the rhythmic pocket of the original recordings by listening closely to where the beat sits; many of these songs sit slightly behind the downbeat
• Pay attention to dynamic shaping within the arrangement; Coates often uses texture and registration to build energy, so let those shifts show through

Slot one or more of these into a spring or early-summer recital when students want to play something their peers actually know. They also work beautifully as rewards or confidence builders after students have worked through technique-focused material earlier in the year.

• Reading syncopated rhythms and syncopated left-hand patterns
• Maintaining a steady groove while managing melodic material
• Playing contemporary pop and R&B chord progressions
• Building dynamic contrast and phrasing in shorter forms
• Managing rhythm in alternating time feels (push-pull phrasing)