Top-Requested Modern Broadway Hits: Piano Book

This collection captures the energy and emotional range of contemporary Broadway in arrangements that actually work for pianists learning the instrument. Rather than oversimplifying the songs, Coates retains their character while keeping the right-hand melody clear and idiomatic for piano, making these recognizable hits genuinely fun to perform and to hear.

Stepping into a Broadway dressing room. The collection spans from the emotional vulnerability of 'Once' and 'Spring Awakening' to the comedic swagger of 'Avenue Q' and 'The Book of Mormon.' You get contemporary sound, recognizable melodies, and enough stylistic range to feel like you're performing a revue.

Pianists in the early-intermediate range who want to play the music they hear on Broadway. This book works equally well for students exploring the instrument through songs they love and for singers looking for accessible piano accompaniments to perform with.

• Balance the melody line so it projects without drowning out the accompaniment; these songs have strong harmonic colors worth hearing underneath the tune.
• Lean into the character of each number. A ballad like 'Falling Slowly' calls for legato control and patient phrasing, while 'Superboy and the Invisible Girl' thrives on rhythmic precision and attitude.
• If singing along, practice the piano part solidly first, then add the vocal line. The accompaniment patterns are designed to support singing without requiring you to simplify further.
• Use the variety of tempos and styles across the collection to warm up different technical areas. Moving from a rock number to a ballad to a comedy piece keeps practice engaging and develops versatility.

Program individual selections for student recitals, duet partnerships, or ensemble concerts. A smaller studio can build an entire informal concert around these pieces, pairing piano-only performances with students who want to sing the melody while accompanying themselves. This collection also works beautifully as supplemental repertoire throughout the year, letting students explore songs that genuinely excite them.

• Playing clear, lyrical right-hand melody lines that sit naturally under the hand
• Accompanying a vocalist while maintaining independent musical control of the piano part
• Moving fluidly between contrasting styles (ballad, rock, comedy, contemporary pop-influenced harmony)
• Shaping phrases with dynamic sensitivity in contemporary musical styles
• Reading and executing contemporary harmonic language and rhythmic patterns found in modern theatre music