The Young Pianist's Library: From Bach to Bartók, Book 1B: Piano Book

Agay's gift for selection and arrangement shines throughout this book. He has curated a collection that balances well-known classical pieces with lesser-known gems, each arranged to sit comfortably at the intermediate level without sacrificing musical substance. The variety of styles and character pieces makes it genuinely engaging to teach, and students stay invested because they're playing real music, not exercises dressed up as pieces.

Opening this book feels like stepping into a salon filled with character pieces, dances, and songs from across the classical world. There's lightness here, playfulness, and genuine musical substance all at once: Carnival exuberance and the gentle swing of On the Swing sit alongside the structural clarity of traditional dance forms, creating a collection that feels both coherent and endlessly surprising.

This book serves intermediate pianists ready to explore beyond simplified arrangements but not yet ready for unedited classical scores. It works well for students in private lessons who need fresh, engaging repertoire, and for group piano classes where variety and accessibility matter.

• Shape the phrasing in each piece by listening for the natural arch of the melody, even in shorter dance forms like the Waltz and Angloise where phrase clarity prevents the piece from feeling mechanical.
• Pay attention to the particular character implied by each title and form: the Musette benefits from a clean, articulate touch, while the Italian Song may need a singing, legato approach to its lyrical line.
• Use the variety of textures as an opportunity to explore different pedal techniques; rhythmic accompaniment patterns need crisp articulation while sustained passages allow fuller resonance.
• Practice hands separately in pieces with less familiar harmonic language to build secure independence before combining, which accelerates learning and builds confidence.

Program individual pieces from this collection in student recitals to give intermediate players a platform for performance without overwhelming length or technical demand. The diverse styles also make it ideal for thematic concert programs (a "Dances and Songs" concert, for instance) or for pairing with contemporary works to show stylistic breadth.

• Recognizing and performing baroque dance forms (Musette, Angloise, Country Dances, March)
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in varied textures
• Maintaining even tempo and rhythmic clarity in dance-based pieces
• Shaping musical phrases in pieces without frequent rests or obvious structural markers
• Pedal control across different harmonic densities and accompaniment patterns
• Sight-reading confidence through exposure to familiar classical forms