The Entertainer (from The Sting): Piano Sheet

Glover's arrangement strips away none of the syncopation and rhythmic playfulness that makes Joplin's original so distinctive, yet restructures the material so early intermediate students can experience authentic ragtime without wrestling with the left-hand demands of the full version. It's a rare simplified arrangement that feels like the real thing, not a watered-down approximation.

Infectious, witty, and irresistible. Ragtime bounces with a syncopated swagger that feels like music for dancing, even when played in a concert hall. The Entertainer specifically sparkles with humor and optimism; it's music built to delight and entertain, not to impress with difficulty.

Early intermediate pianists ready to expand beyond classical or contemporary pop-style repertoire into a genuinely important historical genre. Students who respond to rhythm and groove will find ragtime both technically engaging and musically rewarding, and this version gives them access without requiring advanced technique.

• Keep the left hand steady and even; ragtime comps require a metronomic pulse underneath the syncopated melody. Resist the urge to rush into syncopated figures.
• Lean into the off-beat accents and the "swing" quality of the syncopation without making the piece sound sloppy. Precision in rhythm is what gives ragtime its charm.
• Shape each section with clear dynamic contrasts. The repeats in ragtime are there for repetition, so vary your touch and volume slightly on repeat to keep listeners engaged.
• Practice hands separately until the syncopation feels natural in the right hand. Then integrate the steady left-hand accompaniment, treating it as the foundation rather than an afterthought.

Pair this with other American vernacular music (blues, early jazz standards, folk-influenced pieces) to build a recital around the roots of American sound. It also works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, since audiences immediately recognize and enjoy it. Use it to teach students that "simplified" does not mean "second-rate" and that arranging is a legitimate compositional skill.

• Syncopation and off-beat rhythmic placement
• Left-hand accompaniment patterns and maintaining steady tempo beneath complex right-hand figures
• Voicing and touch distinction between melody and accompaniment
• Understanding of ragtime as a historical genre and its role in jazz development
• Interpretation of written rhythmic intention (knowing when to swing or emphasize syncopation)