Simply Classics, Grade 2-3: Piano Book

This collection solves a real programming challenge: how to introduce students to genuine classical masterworks without overwhelming them technically. Gritton's arrangements honor the original compositions while keeping the writing lean and idiomatic for the keyboard, so students hear the music they recognize without unnecessary complications getting in the way of musicality.

Opening this book is like walking through a gallery of musical highlights. Bach's contrapuntal clarity sits beside Grieg's Nordic drama; Vivaldi's spring sunshine flows into Tchaikovsky's elegance. There's discovery in every page and the satisfaction of recognizing music that shapes classical understanding.

Students at grades 2-3 who are ready to explore beyond simplified arrangements and connect with the actual repertoire they encounter in concerts and recordings. This book works particularly well for pianists preparing for UK exam syllabuses or those seeking a structured introduction to classical styles.

• Shape the cantabile lines in pieces like Sheep May Safely Graze and the St. Anthony Chorale by thinking of the phrasing as vocal writing. Students often play too mechanically at this level; imagine a singer's breath.
• Dance pieces such as The Can-Can and The Birdcatcher respond well to a clear, bouncy articulation. Resist the urge to romanticize; let the rhythmic character speak for itself.
• The operatic selections (The Flower Duet, Wolfram's Song) require attention to rubato and phrase shaping. Work on maintaining flexibility in tempo while keeping the underlying pulse steady.

Use this as a core repertoire source for a spring recital or concert celebrating classical masters across centuries. Each piece works as a standalone encore or study piece, but the collection also works beautifully as a survey when programmed in chronological or thematic order.

• Identifying baroque, classical, and romantic stylistic characteristics through direct experience
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in multi-voice writing
• Shaping phrases in cantabile and dance idioms with appropriate articulation
• Reading across a range of key signatures and time signatures
• Developing historical awareness of opera, orchestral music, and ballet through keyboard arrangement