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

This book strikes the balance most teachers chase: students encounter genuinely musical pieces while absorbing solid foundational concepts. The careful introduction of the sonatina form and expanded harmonic vocabulary (IV chord, V7 cadences) happens within real musical contexts, not isolation.

These pieces breathe with the elegance of salon music and folk-inspired melodies, full of dance rhythms and warm harmonies. The introduction of the sonatina brings a hint of formal structure without the weight of Baroque counterpoint, inviting students to feel like they're playing real compositions rather than studies.

This book belongs with Grade 2B piano students who have completed Succeeding at the Piano, Grade 2A. It works for private lesson students and those in group piano settings, provided they're ready to synthesize multiple musical elements within single pieces.

• Introduce waltz bass and broken chord accompaniment patterns by having students play the bass line alone first, then add the melody only after the hand position and rhythmic pattern feel secure.
• When working with ledger lines above and below the staff, use flashcard drills during the first week, then reserve focused practice time just before tackling those specific pieces.
• Demonstrate legato pedaling by playing a passage without pedal first, then with it, letting students hear the difference in resonance and tail-off between notes.
• Build comfort with parallel and contrary motion scales gradually by having students identify hand positions visually before playing, reducing the cognitive load of execution.

Use this as your workhorse book throughout the second half of Grade 2 instruction. The pieces move students steadily toward early grade 3 repertoire while keeping them musically engaged; they're ready to perform for studio recitals or showcase events by the time they finish the book.

• Reading and playing ledger lines above, below, and between the staff
• Understanding and performing sonatina form
• Identifying and playing intervals of a 6th
• Executing waltz bass and broken chord accompaniment patterns
• Playing with legato pedaling technique
• Constructing and resolving I-IV-I-V7-I cadences
• Playing one-hand arpeggios
• Understanding and performing parallel and contrary motion scales on white keys
• Reading and applying Italian performance terms (poco, a tempo, pp, molto) and fermata
• Performing ostinato patterns
• Executing dotted quarter note rhythms and eighth rests