The Best of Dennis Alexander, Book 2: Piano Book

Alexander's gift is knowing exactly what intermediate pianists are ready to tackle musically and technically. This collection distills his most effective teaching pieces; each one rewards student practice without overwhelming, and each one sounds like a real composition rather than an exercise. Students want to play these pieces in recitals.

These pieces strike a refreshing middle ground between accessible and artful. You'll find clear melodic writing that students can hold onto, along with harmonic sophistication and textural variety that keeps both player and listener engaged. They feel like real music, not stepping stones.

Early-intermediate and intermediate pianists ready for solos that balance approachable technique with genuine musical substance. Studio teachers will use this collection repeatedly across multiple students and multiple years.

• Identify the underlying harmonic progression in each piece before focusing on technique; Alexander's pieces often reveal themselves through chord awareness rather than note-by-note analysis.
• Pay attention to the style marking and tempo indication as primary guides to character; rushing these pieces erases the careful phrasing Alexander built into the writing.
• Use the full range of dynamics marked in the score; students often skip subito changes or gradual crescendos that transform the emotional shape of a piece.
• Work hands separately only when absolutely necessary; most of these pieces benefit from integrated hands-together practice from the beginning to preserve the musical line.

Build a recital or studio class around several selections from this book to create a cohesive program at the intermediate level. Individual pieces also work well as sight-reading assignments or as technical anchors for exploring specific pedagogical areas (hand coordination, dynamic control, phrasing).

• Phrase shaping at intermediate level
• Hand independence and coordination
• Dynamic control and contrast
• Harmonic awareness and chord function
• Stylistic interpretation based on tempo and character markings
• Sight-reading fluency in accessible contexts