Together at the Piano, Book 5: Intermediate Piano Book

A cultural and stylistic cross-section. You move from the autumnal elegance of Vivaldi to the rhythmic swagger of jazz-age standards, then encounter the dramatic surge of Wagner. The book reads less like a homogeneous lesson sequence and more like a curated recital program.

Intermediate piano students (roughly Grade 3-4 level) who benefit from studying a diverse repertoire within a single book. This collection works for students ready to move beyond method-book progressions and explore recognizable melodies alongside shorter classical forms.

• Treat the folk melodies (The Gospel Train, Old Joe Clark, Ja-Da) with rhythmic precision. These arrangements often sit in straightforward harmonic contexts, so rhythmic clarity becomes the primary expressive tool.
• Approach the classical excerpts (Autumn from The Four Seasons, Ride of the Valkyries) by listening to orchestral recordings first. Understand the original textures, then consider how McLean's piano writing reimagines those colors.
• Balance hand independence in pieces with distinct melodic and harmonic roles. The intermediate level often introduces true two-hand writing; use these arrangements to strengthen that separation.

Use selections from this book as recital pieces throughout the intermediate years. A student might perform Autumn in a fall concert, then pivot to The Gospel Train or Ja-Da for a variety concert, building programming confidence through repeated exposure to different musical character and form.

• Sight-reading across multiple musical styles and periods
• Hand independence in melody-and-accompaniment textures
• Pedal control across varied harmonic contexts
• Interpreting character in short forms (ballads, character pieces, folk arrangements)
• Tempo and phrasing decisions in familiar versus unfamiliar melodies