Succeeding at the Piano, Lesson & Technique Book - Grade 1B (2nd Edition): Piano Book

Marlais structures this book so that technique and musicality advance together. Students aren't drilling scales in isolation; they're learning sharps, flats, and chord patterns through nine classical arrangements, folk songs, and original compositions that actually sound like real music. The genre variety keeps practice sessions fresh while the pedagogical sequence builds naturally from Grade 1A.

Energetic and accessible. The mix of classical arrangements, folk material, and original compositions creates a book that feels diverse without being scattered. Students discover that their hands can move across the keyboard and that simple chords open new musical possibilities.

Grade 1B pianists ready to expand beyond the foundational 5-finger C Position work. These students have solid note-reading skills and basic rhythm literacy, and they're prepared for the harmonic and positional challenges that come next.

• Introduce G Position and Bass G Position gradually across different pieces so students build hand independence without overwhelming them in a single lesson.
• Have students identify I and V7 chords by ear before playing them, connecting the harmonic theory to what they hear.
• Work through the blocked and broken chord exercises separately before expecting them to execute the transitions smoothly in full pieces.
• Use the upbeat concept explicitly: tap the beat before the staff to internalize its rhythmic function, especially in folk arrangements where anacrusis appears.

Assign this as your primary lesson book throughout Grade 1B, using individual pieces as recital or studio-class repertoire as students progress through the material. The classical arrangements work especially well on student recitals, giving young pianists recognizable, satisfying pieces to perform.

• Reading music in G Position and Bass G Position
• Identifying and writing sharps and flats
• Understanding tonic (I) and dominant (V7) harmonic function
• Playing five-finger patterns in C and G major
• Executing blocked and broken chord accompaniments
• Recognizing and performing upbeats
• Applying the Kick Off touch release technique
• Reading across multiple genres and compositional styles