This year in my piano studio, I have a lot of siblings coming to lessons. This makes it super convenient for them to practice duets together. I was happy to discover so many fun arrangements for intermediate level students at 8notes.com that I think they are going to love!
The solo version of "He's a Pirate" from Pirates of the Caribbean in Faber's Show Time Disney Book 2A is a piece that almost every student who has tried it in my studio loves!
Solo Version of He's Pirate (click the image to purchase on amazon.com)
David Bruce has composed a song with a similar style in duet format called "Pirates of the Aegean"
Watch the performance video to hear the duet from 8notes.com
This Solo Version demo video is helpful to practice either part with.
Duet Practice Tips
Duet playing requires you to continuously move forward, even if you make a mistake!
- Watch out for the clefs! After playing the majority of your music with treble in the right hand and bass in the left, it takes extra focus to read double treble or double bass music, which is frequently seen in duets.
- Watch out for 8va signs (up or down). Duets often require you to play higher or lower on the piano than usual, with 8va signs or a lot of ledger lines written in the music.
- Start with slow practice - the speed of no mistakes! Then gradually increase speed after successful repetitions.
- Choose fingering for simplicity and musicality. Write it in and play it consistently the same.
- Practice with a metronome. Adjust for the time signatures.
- Record yourself playing one part, then practice playing the other part as you listen to your recording.
Duet Music Samples
Explore some of these other pieces that have duet versions available on 8notes.com
There are almost 100 "Easy" level duets to choose from, which is a great level for early intermediate players to start with.
I printed and compiled a few of my favorites below for my students to choose from. These YouTube videos feature the original compositions, but you can hear samples of the duet arrangements by visiting 8 notes.com.
Baroque Style Duet
Classical Era Duet
Romantic Era Duet
Radetzky March by Strauss - 8 notes.com This is a great starter duet because although the solo and accompaniment parts have different rhythms, they rarely conflict, and the accompaniment provides a nice steady beat backdrop for the solo melody.
Christmas Duet
Carol of the Bells Duet - 8notes.com Probably the most favorite Christmas song of piano students! I've never had a year where at least one student hasn't chosen to learn this piece.
Sacred Music Duet
Come Thou Fount 8 notes.com Pop Music Duet
La Bamba - 8notes.com Both the primo and secondo parts are pretty fun to play with a lot of repetition. The challenge in this piece is aligning quarter note triplets in the primo part with repetitive eighth notes in the secondo. Feel the strong pulse on beats 1 and 3 to play this duet with success.
Folk Music Duet
Tarantella Napoletana - 8notes.com I love energy of this 6/8 piece,and the duet version allows both the primo and secondo parts to have a turn playing the engaging rhythmic melody line.
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