Today at lessons I asked a few students if they had any requests for pieces they'd love to learn. One teen mentioned they love the classical-sounding Barbie music... not from the new movie but from her childhood favorite animated videos.
I love it when my students introduce me to new music that I enjoy as well. 😎 The link to the free sheet music is beneath her post on YouTube.
When a student is eager to learn a piece, their practice tends to increase dramatically and I love how this particular piece has a classical/pop sound and includes some unusual rhythmic patterns and key shifts based on familiar chords that will stretch her skills to new levels. 💪💓
The style of the music reminds me of a music book I purchased years ago for my own playing enjoyment called "Jane Austen's World."
Click the image to purchase Jane Austen's World on amazon or preview some of my favorite pieces from this intermediate level book that are played by various pianists.
The simplest piece is End Titles from Emma. It includes repetitive broken chords and gives students practice playing cantabile in the easy key of G Major.
Frank Churchhill Arrives is the opening piece in the key of G Major, 6/8 Time. It includes a lot of repetitive, broken arpeggios in the left hand (what I call 1-5-8-5-8-5 based on scale degrees). The rallentandos and temporary swap to 9/8 time may be new for some students.
Excellent Notion is in 6/8 time, G Major with mostly harmonic 3rds and 2nds in the left hand giving good practice with legato 3rds and syncopated pedaling
My Father's Favourite is a bit trickier, written in the key of A flat major with a few dotted eighth + sixteenths. I love the slow, expressive style of this piece! It's my favorite to play in this book.
For more Intermediate Piano Music that students love, check out these reviews!
I have subscribed to a lot of piano teaching related emails for the past 20 years, but one that brings me the most value and joy is Teach Piano Today blog by Trevor and Andrea Dow. They have so many free games and song samplers that my students love to learn with. Clicking this free song sampler for the Stolen Roses led me to dive in and buy the book.
But their teen piano library is what has recently captured my interest. I previously shared thoughts about their Performance Pop 2 Book that my intermediate students are enjoying more than their method books.
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