Educational Resources

Edition Peters Graded Anthologies 2027-28

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Looking back, 2026 has been a year of graded anthologies, with new syllabus publications from LCME (reviewed here), from ABRSM (reviewed here), and the latter’s recent Encore Plus series (reviewed here).

Whether one is committed to exam preparation or not, these are useful collections of music which (one hopes) will be suitably levelled, offering diversity and variety for players and, for those taking grades, alternative repertoire selections and ‘own choice’ pieces.

Reviewing the 2027-28 ABRSM syllabus and Piano Exam Pieces books (with some disappointment). I noted:

“I think that few will argue with the point that, across every grade, the alternative selections offer several easier and more appealing options. I suspect these lists may therefore prove a more attractive repertoire focus for teachers wishing to maximise motivation and confidence.”

Right on time, Edition Peters have now published their own Grade Piano Anthology collections based on the ABRSM 2027-28 syllabus, further swelling our options. In common with their previous series reviewed here, they offer books for each of Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8.

So do they offer a more tempting and balanced selection of music than the rather lacklustre ABRSM 2027-28 books, and might these collections have wider appeal? Here’s my review…

Essential Piano Education Resources 2026-7

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

It can be overwhelming keeping track of all the latest and best resources, and I have found that my annual roundup of my favourite new releases and returning classics can be just as helpful to me as it is for other teachers reading this.

As we begin another academic year, here’s my selection of standout piano education publications from the last few months, evergreen classics that are still at the heart of my teaching, and must-have music collections with an educational focus.

To read my in-depth evaluations of any of the publications shared below, and for a better understanding of which might suit your and your students’ particular needs, simply click on the titles to open the full reviews, or right-click to open them in a new tab.

First 50 Left-Hand Patterns

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Over the last couple of years, Hal Leonard have been expanding their hugely popular First 50 series of bumper songbooks for easy piano to include some interesting educational titles that fill a particular niche. The first of these titles that I reviewed was Alistair Watson’s First 50 Chords, about which I wrote,

“I have no doubt that this book will find significant popularity, and deservedly so. I am sent plenty of educational material to evaluate; this particular book is a real “keeper”, and one which I anticipate making plenty of use of in the years to come.”

That said, I also mentioned a few caveats, questioning whether the publication offered sufficient material to help players effectively realise lead sheets in practice::

“Learning to vamp using the given chord patterns is likely to be the key that unlocks real enjoyment of the material, but many learners particularly struggle at this point”

Few things sound as unpleasant on the piano as bashing out root-position triads at the lower end of the keyboard. So for pianists who want to play from chord notation or create vamp accompaniments, learning stylistically appropriate left-hand patterns is an essential skill to prioritise, but one for which there are too few methods or manuals.

Happily, Watson’s latest book in the series, First 50 Left-Hand Patterns is a brilliant sequel to his previous outing, and aims to address this point…

Classics for Ten Fingers

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Over the last couple of years, OUP Music have done a stellar job of thoroughly updating, revising, and giving a fresh new look to their beloved Piano Time series and Tunes for Ten Fingers books, refreshing the musical content of the existing bestsellers and adding additional titles to reinvigorate the range.

When I first heard of the latest title, Classics for Ten Fingers, I wasn’t immediately inspired, imagining it to be a collection featuring dull arrangements of the usual classical hits, but I’m happy to report that the book has far exceeded my initial expectations.

Written by Michael Higgins (who also brought us the excellent Christmas for Ten Fingers) and published by OUP Music, Classics for Ten Fingers is billed as A first piano book of easy classical pieces with accompaniments, and is a beautifully presented, colourful collection full of unexpected musical surprises.

In fact, it is so good that it’s not just a must-have for existing users of the series, but could equally entice those who prefer other methods but want to expand their beginner resources to include a wide and diverse range of great piano composers from previous generations…

The Piano Scale Book

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

When I reviewed Ben Andrew’s first three graded Piano Scales Books a couple of summers ago, I wrote in my conclusion:

“Ben Andrew and Hal Leonard must surely be congratulated for bringing so useful and innovative a new approach to a crowded market, and one which so uniquely supplements those already available… I suspect that for many beginners, Ben Andrew’s Piano Scale Books could transform the early stages of scales learning for the better.”

Now Hal Leonard have published his complete version of The Piano Scale Book, a manual that applies his unique visual approach to learning scales and arpeggios across every major and minor key (up to six sharps and flats).

To understand his method, you need to read my main review here, and I won’t repeat the same content again. Rather, in this review I will look specifically at the new complete manual and comment on anything that is new or different…

Paul Harris: Play with Rhythm!

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

While Pianodao has featured several books and series by my friend Paul Harris (you can explore my other reviews here), I can only scratch the surface of the more than 500 publications already to his name.

Harris’s latest looks set to become another classic, a standout publication that superbly fills a gap many of us didn’t quite realise existed.

Play with Rhythm! is billed as “a workbook for developing a sense of pulse, rhythm, and counting”, suitable for musicians of any instrument or genre, and can be used in individual or group lessons, or on your own at home. According to the publishers Faber Music,

“Suitable for players of Grade 2 (Elementary) level upwards, this practical workbook takes students step by step through a series of simple activities that will develop a real understanding of rhythm and awareness of pulse.”

Having perused a draft some months ago, and now the finished product, I think that this winning publication will quickly establish itself as an essential resource, so let’s take a closer look.

ABRSM Piano Syllabus 2027/8

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

It’s that time again: right on cue, ABRSM have published their latest piano grade exam syllabus, accompanied as usual by a raft of resources to support players and teachers. With their 2027 & 2028 piano syllabus, they promise:

Refreshed repertoire for Practical and Performance Grades, Initial to Grade 8, with new Piano Exam Pieces books for each.
A separate, 68-page Teaching Notes booklet.
A new online Piano Learning Hub with video demonstrations and learning resources.
Audio recordings, available on all major streaming platforms.

They also confirm the following useful information:

There are no changes to the scales and arpeggios or sight-reading and aural tests for Practical Grades.
You can continue to use repertoire from the 2025 & 2026 Piano Syllabuses until 31 December 2027. During this overlap period you must choose all your set pieces from the same syllabus.

The first of these points may be disappointing for educators, but given the shift towards digital performance grades won’t perhaps come as a surprise. You can read about the pedagogy problems with their scales syllabus here, and significant concerns about the validity of their aural tests here.

My coverage of ABRSM always aims for balance and impartiality, and while critical of their support tests, my reviews of their Piano Exam Pieces books have regularly heaped praise on the board. Rightly so, because in recent years they have brilliantly balanced returning favourites with new commissions and inspiring discoveries.

So the big question is whether the latest Piano Exam Pieces will live up to the board’s high standards, delivering diversity, musical quality, educational value, and genuine appeal. And having had three weeks to live with and play through all these pieces ahead of their publication, that’s the question I hope to answer.

LCME Piano Syllabus 2026

Educational Resources
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

In the rapidly changing landscape of graded piano exams, the regular appearance of new syllabus and varied repertoire publications has remained a positive constant, so when LCME’s 2021-24 piano specifications expired, it was a surprise that they were extended pending a replacement.

This appears to be because the board has undergone considerable change during and since the pandemic. With new leadership and systems now in place, LCME are firmly back, and have this week published the long awaited new piano syllabus, wisely billed as being “valid for examinations from 2026 until further notice”.

Although the new syllabus is immediately valid from 1st September 2026, the previous 2021 syllabus will also remain valid until 31st July 2027 (but mixing the two is not allowed).

In this extended review, I will consider the new repertoire selections and ‘Piano Handbook’ publications, offer insight into other significant syllabus changes and options, and reflect on LCME’s continuing place within the piano exam market.

So to answer the big question many will have, has the wait for the new LCME piano syllabus been worth it? Let’s find out…