Top 10 Broadway Classics: Piano Book

Aaronson's arrangements strike an uncommon balance: they sound genuinely satisfying to play, not simplified or watered down. Your students will recognize these melodies instantly, but they'll also encounter real pianistic challenges (voice leading, harmonic color, rhythmic sophistication) that keep their practice engaging and rewarding.

Opening this book feels like stepping into a Broadway theater where every song lands. The melodies are irresistible and instantly familiar, yet the arrangements give you real work to do at the keyboard. There's a sense of elegant sophistication throughout, whether you're navigating the jazz-inflected harmonies of Cole Porter or the soaring romanticism of Lerner and Loewe.

Late intermediate and early advanced pianists who want to perform recognizable, emotionally engaging music without tackling full concertos or sonatas. Students preparing for recitals, auditions, or simply looking to build a repertoire of pieces they're excited to play will find substantial material here.

• Lean into the theatrical character of each piece. These aren't concert hall abstractions; they're songs with personality and emotional arc. Let the phrasing and rubato reflect the dramatic intent of the original musical.
• Pay close attention to Aaronson's voice leading in the left hand. Many arrangements at this level treat the accompaniment as window dressing, but here the inner voices support and enrich the melody. Listening to those middle lines transforms a good performance into a compelling one.
• Shape the harmony by controlling the sustain pedal thoughtfully. Late intermediate pianists often over-pedal; these pieces benefit from selective pedal changes that clarify harmonic movement rather than blur it.
• Consider the orchestration of the original when choosing tempo and tone. 'Send In the Clowns' calls for introspection; 'And All That Jazz' demands energy and drive. Let your touch and tempo reflect that context.

A collection like this works beautifully as a recital program on its own or as a set of encores that bridges classical and musical theater repertoire. You might also draw individual pieces for student performances or use the collection to build a unit on American songwriting and theater history, pairing specific pieces with recordings and background context.

• Pedal control and harmonic listening in arrangements with rich voice leading
• Stylistic awareness across multiple composers and theatrical contexts
• Tempo flexibility and rubato appropriate to different musical moods
• Left-hand independence and supporting inner-voice clarity
• Reading and interpreting jazz-influenced harmonies and rhythmic figures