Sound/World, Volume 1: Early Intermediate/Intermediate Piano Book

Applebaum writes miniatures that sound genuinely modern without requiring advanced technique, which means your intermediate students encounter real 20th century piano language rather than simplified approximations. Each piece has a distinct character and emotional weight; you'll find yourself assigning them repeatedly because they're satisfying to play and rewarding to listen to in recital.

Opening these pages feels like stepping into a modern gallery where every room evokes a different mood. You'll encounter moments of crystalline beauty, passages of gentle introspection, bursts of dramatic energy, and sections where the piano's registers create unusual, luminous sonorities. These aren't pieces that sit passively on the bench; they invite active listening and emotional engagement.

Early intermediate to intermediate pianists ready to explore contemporary idiom. These students have solid technique and rhythmic control but may be new to the harmonic and textural language of 20th century piano writing.

• Explore the full dynamic range. These miniatures thrive on contrasts, so resist the urge to play everything at a comfortable mezzo-forte. Dramatic pieces demand genuine intensity; gentle arias require genuine restraint.
• Notice the bitonal and modal writing. The pieces that sit outside traditional major/minor tonality need slightly different ear training. Play them slowly first to hear the harmonic logic clearly before pushing for tempo.
• Use the piano's full range intentionally. Many of these pieces spread across octaves and registers. Make sure the lowest and highest passages are as musical as the middle range.

Build a recital around one or two of these pieces to anchor a contemporary set, or program them individually throughout a season to familiarize your students and audiences with modern piano language. They work equally well in a student showcase or as performance repertoire for students preparing for auditions that include a contemporary selection.

• Reading and executing bitonal and modal harmonic language
• Sustaining emotional character across short forms
• Balancing texture and dynamic contrast across the full piano range
• Voicing chords that sit outside traditional functional harmony
• Interpreting contemporary notation and articulation marks