Elementary Repertoire

Disney • Graded Pieces for Piano

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Last year at around this time I reviewed the very-specifically-named Calming Christmas Carols for Graded Piano (read the review) and noted,

“Cleverly, and rather uniquely positioned as the progressive collection to which learners can reliably return each year throughout their Elementary to Intermediate piano journey, and thus maximising the book’s continuing value to teachers, learners, and parents, the concept is certainly attractive.”

At the time I wondered whether publisher Hal Leonard might extend the graded concept to other popular collections, and sure enough, earlier this year they launched the excellent Beatles Graded Pieces for Piano (reviewed here), and hot on its heels a Disney collection, again for Grades 1-5, and the subject of the review.

In common with the Beatles Graded Pieces for Piano collection, this new release includes new arrangements by Christopher Hussey, along with appropriate introductory exercises suitable for learning the pieces at each grade level. Read on to find out more…

ABRSM • Encore Plus

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Spin the clock back to 2015, and ABRSM’s Encore series of four graded piano books was among the first ever reviews on Pianodao. I loved the series then and still do, although much has changed in the intervening years, and Encore has been due an update that accounts for the intervening decade of syllabus publications.

That now arrives in the form of Encore Plus, a new set of four books that broadly match the grade groupings and spirit of the original series, again compiled by Karen Marshall and complete with her teaching advice.

The original series remains available; these new volumes are not so much replacements as complementary collections, bringing together a more contemporary selection of repertoire drawn from recent ABRSM syllabuses.

ABRSM are certainly no strangers to graded compilations of this sort, but I think Encore Plus is among their best series yet. In this review I will reflect on the included repertoire, consider Marshall’s supplementary teaching material, and assess the overall quality of the resource…

The Easiest Gillock Pieces

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

When I compiled the Graded Gillock series for The Willis Music Company, a decision was made early on to focus on three books covering Grades 1-6, two grades per selection. You can read about those collections here, which have already become popular with teachers and students alike.

William Gillock (1917-1993) also composed a wealth of music for beginners, so it is a special joy to welcome a new collection from Willis Music. The Easiest Gillock Pieces brings together a careful selection of 31 of his pieces for pre-Grade 1 players.

This new collection complements the Graded Gillock series by covering the earlier stages of learning and opening up the prospect of players discovering the composer’s beginner music.

Better still, it includes brand new duet parts: optional accompaniments which have been newly composed by Gillock’s famous protégé Glenda Austin, whose own music I have reviewed here. So is this now an indispensable book for younger beginners?

Pianoworks • Meditations

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Janet and Alan Bullard’s Pianoworks series of older beginner books have long been a staple within my teaching studio. The two method books provide a solid introduction to musical understanding, piano technique and creative musicianship, while the supplementary repertoire collections are among the most popular I have ever used, whether alongside the method or independently.

It’s been a while since the series expanded, but the Bullards are back with a new collection, sporting a fresh new look which I am told will be adopted by the whole series as each title goes to reprint. According to the publishers,

“Pianoworks Meditations is a brilliant collection of gentle and reflective pieces for the older beginner. Written with a focus on playing for enjoyment, these 24 original pieces guide the player through a range of styles, while aiding in relaxation and mindfulness.”

Having played through the collection I am happy to confirm that they are as beautifully crafted as the original music which the Bullards previously sprinkled throughout the Pianoworks series, but let’s take a closer look…

Piano Tales for Winnie-the-Pooh

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

With the popularity of her OUP collections, and her many contributions to the ABRSM piano and jazz syllabus, Nikki Iles has become a near ubiquitous voice in contemporary music education, her distinctive writing a permeating presence in piano publications.

Fans of her music (of whom I am certainly one) will give a warm welcome to the truly delightful pieces in her latest collection from EVC Music, Piano Tales for Winnie-the-Pooh. The book follows in the footsteps of her previous Piano Tales for Alice (UK Grades 1-3, reviewed here), and Piano Tales for Peter Pan (Grades 3-5, reviewed here).

Rather than rounding off her trilogy with an advanced collection as might have been predicted, Piano Tales for Winnie-the-Pooh delivers a selection of new compositions suitable for elementary to intermediate pianists. Let’s find out more…

First Steps Piano

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Darragh Gilleece is an Irish pianist, composer, and educator. His distinguished career includes serving as an examiner for the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). His original music appears in their grade syllabus, bespoke method books, and now in two collections published by Forsyth Music.

The first book includes 16 original pieces suitable for students from around (UK) Initial to Grade 2, while the second ranges from around Grades 2-5.

Gilleece’s music in these collections is traditional with a modern twist. Pieces are highly appealing in their tone, packed with valuable learning content, imaginative, and well-crafted. My review below includes the composer’s recordings of a couple to give a flavour.

Piano Music of Latin American Composers

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

A couple of years ago, Hal Leonard launched a new series of repertoire collections under the banner of ‘Expanding the Repertoire’, the first two books being a couple of volumes edited by Leah Claiborne called Piano Music of Black Composers.

Reviewing them at the time, I concluded that although the two volumes could be welcomed simply as an inclusive diversification of the pedagogy literature, nevertheless,

“…the quality of the content makes a compelling case for introducing this music to all our elementary to intermediate students, regardless of their heritage.”

I am glad to see that the series has now itself been expanded, with two complementary volumes of music by Latin American composers. Once again, the Level 1 book will suit elementary to late elementary players (UK Initial to Grade 2), while Level 2 caters for early to late intermediate (Grades 2-5).

Compiled and edited by Desireé González-Miller, Piano Music of Latin American Composers is an eye-catching resource, so let’s take a look…

The Beatles • Graded Pieces

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

With last year’s publication of Calming Christmas Carols for Graded Piano, Willis Music Company introduced the fresh and rather neat idea of curating an anthology of popular music, presented in arrangements suitable for players from Grades 1-5, divided into sections that progress accordingly.

In my review, I noted:

“Cleverly, and rather uniquely positioned as the progressive collection to which learners can reliably return each year throughout their Elementary to Intermediate piano journey, and thus maximising the book’s continuing value to teachers, learners, and parents, the concept is certainly attractive.”

I’m not surprised to see Hal Leonard visit this useful and inspiring concept, this time delving into the enduring songbook of The Beatles for material, and with ace arranger Christopher Hussey on board, whose name you may recall from the brilliant Gradebusters! series, which I have reviewed here.

From me to you, here’s my review…