The Pianodao Music Library brings together all of the piano repertoire which has been reviewed, shared or otherwise featured on Pianodao. As such it is a varied, extensive, inclusive, and ever expanding body of carefully curated music.
The music in the Late Intermediate category is suitable for developing players at around UK Grades 5-6 level or equivalent.
Studio Choice
STUDIO CHOICE showcases the publications which my regular students have enjoyed and which I most frequently recommend. This includes Library Essentials, offering a core programme of music, and a regularly updated list of fresh, Current Favourites.
Library Essentials
Graded Gillock • Three Essential Collections
Over the last three decades, many of my students have found immense enjoyment and motivation playing the music of William Gillock, and today they continue to find inspiration in his catchy tunes and evocative imagination. These three graded collections deliver 41 of his best pieces.
Piano Music by Women Composers
Immanuela Gruenberg’s two new collections of ‘Piano Music by Women Composers’ are quite simply outstanding, an essential milestone which every intermediate or advanced pianist should rush to welcome…
Relax with Beautiful Pieces
For those who play the piano purely for pleasure (rather than for certificates or prizes) the latest series of publications from Schott Music will be of special interest. The “Relax With” series is aimed at intermediate to advanced pianists who play “mostly at home for their own enjoyment”.
ABRSM’s Encore Series
The “Encore” publications are a brilliant addition to any piano student’s music collection, and can only help raise the quality and level of music making wherever they are used.
Nikki Iles and Friends
Nikki Iles is back with two new books of jazz, between them bringing 29 new pieces for intermediate to advanced players, composed and arranged by Iles as well as several other stars of the contemporary jazz world.
The Intermediate Piano Sonata Collection
A new supplementary addition to Faber Music’s “Piano Trainer” series, The Intermediate Piano Sonata Collection will be warmly welcomed by all who enjoy the classical style…
Current Favourites
Adrian Lord • Piano Postcards
As with his “Piano Meditations”, Adrian Lord’s “Piano Postcards” has a wonderfully elevating quality that permeates the stunning production as much as the music itself. Here, again, is a beautiful collection in every sense, and one to genuinely cherish.
Ludovico Einaudi: Underwater
As a sometime fan of Einaudi’s work, I found his new album “Underwater” a strikingly different listen, as have many others, and have been looking forward to considering the sheet music folio, which has recently been published by Chester Music / Hal Leonard and is the subject of this review…
Ola Gjeilo: Night
I have played through a significant number of albums in this general vein before, but Ola Gjeilo’s Night has not only particularly impressed me, but is a collection to which I have absolutely no doubt that I will return for musical and emotional nourishment in the future.
Here’s the Pianodao review…
Peaceful Piano Solos: The Series
The Peaceful Piano Solo series from Hal Leonard is an easy recommendation, delivering a brilliant selection of contemporary favourites in a tastefully presented set of anthologies, with nicely playable editions.
Celtic Piano Music
Bringing together all 20 pieces from Donald Thomson’s previous four Celtic collections, Celtic Piano Music is a publication to celebrate and treasure. Let’s take a look…
The Faber Music Contemporary Piano Anthology
The Faber Music Contemporary Piano Anthology offers 52 “beautiful neoclassical pieces for solo piano”. Let’s find out whether it lives up to the high standards set by the series…
Explore the Library
I have reviewed an abundance of wonderful music suitable for this level, crossing styles, genres, and the history of the keyboard. There’s truly something here for every player, so dig deep and enjoy exploring the full archive, which is presented here with the most recent additions first…
ABRSM • Piano Inspiration
With their uniquely comfortable blend of great music by composers from such different backgrounds, these are undoubtedly landmark publications, demonstrating beyond doubt that cultural integration and enrichment go hand in hand.
Eugénie Rocherolle’s Reflective Piano Solos
Eugénie Rocherolle’s ‘Reflective Piano Solos” is the latest addition to the many superb publications in her Hal Leonard series. But is it what it seems?
The Piano Player: Uplifting Classics
Uplifting Classics, in common with its predecessors in Faber’s “Piano Player” series, is perfectly poised to win the affection of adult players who enjoy exploring great tunes, and are ready for a fresh smile!
Impressions of New York
“Impressions of New York” is a three movement Jazz Sonatina by Texan composer Mona Rejino. Here’s my review of this appealing late intermediate work…
[correct link this time – sorry about that earlier misfire]
9 Female Composers from 3 Centuries
The vision and execution of the Urtext Primo series is excellent, and no less so in this new addition featuring the music of 9 female composers, from 3 centuries. I am fond of the series, and this new volume is another gem…
Reflections & Relaxations
For players at late intermediate level who enjoy delving into single-composer folios to discover new music, Reflections & Relaxations is an easy recommendation, a consummately crafted collection of classy compositions in a contemporary popular style.
Brian Davidson’s Music Box
Brian Davidson’s music is easy to recommend, combining musical appeal, contemporary character and progressive pianistic writing that’s suitable for late intermediate players looking for fresh repertoire…
Calming Piano Solos
These books are for all intermediate pianists with an open mind and a desire to discover fresh musical treasures. And if the music here promotes a sense of calm, that will I am sure be a very welcome bonus!
Paul Birchall’s Daily Expressions
Paul Birchall’s ‘Daily Expressions’ books are a welcome addition to the late intermediate repertoire, offering characterful contemporary pieces which will appeal to players at around UK Grade 5-6 level.
Classical Tear-Jerkers
Oozing class, and filled with such a good selection of high quality pieces and arrangements, it seems to me that Faber Music have gone to extra lengths to make this book a hugely rewarding one, suitable for players from around Grades 4-6.
Mike Cornick • A Piano Sketchbook
Mike Cornick’s ‘A Piano Sketchbook’ is, as so often with this composer, a collection which I can very simply and warmly recommend. The six new pieces here are in a lighter style, and would suit players at around UK Grade 4-5 level. Here’s my review…
Naoko Ikeda • The Graded Collection
For this publication I have selected and edited 24 of Naoko Ikeda’s best solo works, presenting her pieces in approximate order of difficulty, grouped from Grade 2 to Grade 5 level.
Eugénie Rocherolle’s Romantic Stylings
“Romantic Stylings” is as easy to recommend as it is to review: eight superb and varied intermediate pieces, which are bound to bring joy to players at around UK Grade 4-5 level.
John Williams • The Fabelmans
This is quite simply a sublime score, a masterpiece which absolutely deserved its Oscars nod. Don’t hesitate having a listen, and a play, for yourself!
Discovering Burgmüller
Burgmüller’s three collections of piano etudes, Op.100, Op.105 and Op.109 have been cornerstones of the piano pedagogy literature for over a century and a half, and remain as popular today as ever…
Peaceful Piano Playlist Revisited
With its lovely presentation and unique selection of rewarding music, The Peaceful Piano Playlist Revisited is another winning title in this growing series, deserving every success…
Ola Gjeilo: Dawn
Ola Gjeilo is back with a superb sequel to the brilliant “Night”. The appropriately titled “Dawn” appeared on CD back in the autumn… the sheet music is also now available, and having played through the pieces I want to waste no time waiting to bring you my recommendation…
Einaudi: Underwater Extra
If you already have the main edition of Underwater, and have been enriched by the gorgeous music within that collection, I can only imagine that you will equally enjoy these new works…
My First Schubert: Easiest Pieces
I cannot think of a directly competing collection of Schubert miniatures that matches this new volume’s mix of accessible presentation and perfectly curated musical appeal…. superb!
The Piano Player: Wintertide Collection
With its gorgeous presentation, superb musical selection, adept pianistic arrangements and helpful fingering, it is very easy to recommend Faber Music’s Wintertide Collection to late intermediate and more advanced players everywhere:
Christmas • Peaceful Piano Playlist
With content that will have wide appeal and suggests versatile use, Faber Music’s ‘Peaceful Piano Playlist Christmas’ will be especially attractive to late intermediate players who embrace a wide range of music and will appreciate the relaxed contemporary vibe…
Luke Howard: 28 Transcriptions
Luke Howard has released a succession of albums over the last decade which have established him as one of the leading classical crossover composers, alongside such names as Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter, Poppy Ackroyd and Nils Frahm. It is wonderful to now have this superbly produced collection of solo piano transcriptions…
The Piano Player: Classical Favourites
Faber Music’s “The Piano Player: Classical Favourites” features 20 of the most popular pieces of classical music, some originals but in most cases arrangements.
Here’s my review…
Naoko Ikeda: Aya
For those yet to discover the evocative and scintillating music of Naoko Ikeda, ‘Aya’ offers a beautiful starting point. Like much of her music, these delightful pieces draw their colours from a wide range of influences and offer immediate appeal. The collection is a wonderful addition to the intermediate repertoire…
The Piano Player: British Classics
The sumptuous presentation, matched by superb arrangements and pitch-perfect selection of musical favourites, practically guarantee success for this publication. Yet again it seems to me that Faber have perfectly read the market, and I think we will all be seeing a lot of The Piano Player in the coming months and years. Enjoy!
The Mosaic Series
Mosaic is a superb series, and I am incredibly proud to be associated with it. This is not just educational music at its most creative, but creative composing at its most educational!
Barbara Arens: One Hand Piano
Barbara Arens’s latest collection from Edition Breitkopf is a sequel to her 2013 best-seller “One Hand Piano”. In this review I will take a fresh look at both the original and the newly arrived volume 2…
Women Composers: A Graded Anthology
With the arrival of a third book to complete Melanie Spanswick’s groundbreaking ‘Women Composers: A Graded Anthology’ series, I am republishing my earlier review, fully expanded and updated to include a comprehensive overview of the whole series…
Music from Minecraft
Minecraft fans will no doubt rejoice in the release of these solo piano arrangements. I have a few caveats, but think that the publishers have done a highly impressive job of creating, for the most part, so useful a score.
Read the review and let me know what you think in a comment!..
“HerStory”: The Piano Collection
HerStory is a singular and significant achievement, lifting the lid on a terrific range of superb music. The collection will undoubtedly and very deservedly be recognised as one of the most significant publications of 2022.
An Expedition into Czech Piano Music
This new publication from Bärenreiter will come as a joy to those who are already familiar with the riches of piano music by Czech composers past and present, will be a revelation to those who don’t, and must be considered an essential purchase for all advanced players keen to expand their repertoire…
The New, Improved Microjazz
As we congratulate Christopher Norton on his 40-year achievement with the Microjazz series, he shows no sign of slowing down, even though he has surely already given us several lifetimes of music to enjoy, an absolute treasure trove!
Here’s the latest:
Ballads without words
‘Ballads Without Words’ confirms why we are right to regard Heather Hammond as one of the leading educational composers of our time. Do take time to explore this wonderful collection – and read my full review here:
Beethoven: Klavierstücke
As one who regularly teaches Beethoven, the availability of so much central repertoire in one brilliantly presented and editorially authoritative publication is priceless, and stunning value…
West Side Story
With Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed new movie version of West Side Story arriving at multiplexes around the world, you surely won’t have missed the buzz once again surrounding the great Bernstein/Sondheim masterpiece.
And if you would like to play accessible piano versions of the great songs from this greatest of 20th century masterpieces, look no further than this superb publication.
Greater in Major, Finer in Minor
These two collections are quite simply stunning, perhaps the most superbly presented intermediate collections I have ever seen, and suitable for all ages. And there’s enough consistently good repertoire here to keep players going for quite some time!
Elena Cobb: Recital Piano Solos
As she continues in her passionate drive to promote the music of others, we must hope that Elena Cobb also continues to exercise her own wonderful, musical voice.
Meanwhile, these two collections include some superb music that we can enjoy today!
Koželuch: Six Easy Sonatas
“By 1790, ‘without question the living composer most loved by young and old’ was not Haydn or Mozart but Leopold Koželuch.”
Here’s some truly delightful Viennese Classical music for intermediate players…
Adrian Lord: Piano Meditations
Adrian Lord’s Piano Meditations is in short a superb publication in every sense, and a very easy recommendation to any more advanced player who enjoys playing music which is as absorbing as it is relaxing.
Harry T. Burleigh: Through Moanin’ Pines
Celebrating Black History Month here in the UK, I have pleasure in sharing this new recording which I have made of a piece I recently discovered in the collection Four Early 20th Century Piano Suites by Black Composers, published by Schirmer edition.
Jakub Metelka: Little Virtuoso
These are exquisite compositions, several cuts above the bland fare too often served up to younger players.
Jakob Metelka has delivered another stunning musical feast, and for young players who are up to the challenge, Little Virtuoso can be recommended wholeheartedly and unreservedly.
Markus Schimpp: Yearning for Silence
Suitable for early advanced players, “YEARNING FOR SILENCE” will be a superb discovery for many, and is certainly the pick of the recent bunch of inventive and evocative miniatures. Exquisite!
Read the full Pianodao review…
Disney Goes Classical
Disney Goes Classical is the latest hit album from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, comprising 15 favourite songs from Disney movies. You can stream it on all the usual platforms …and now you can also play the arrangements from the recently published 72-page accompanying music book…
People Get Ready!
People Get Ready! is a new collection of 13 solo piano arrangements of popular songs by Black musicians, suitable for late intermediate to early advanced players.
Martin Doepke: Piano Tales
Those keen to discover and explore imaginative new music, brilliantly and instinctively composed in a popular contemporary style, will find much to enjoy in these pieces.
Here’s the Pianodao review….
Eusebius Mandyczewski: Little Cadences, Canons and Preludes
Whether these little gems ultimately prove to be delicious confectionary or nutritious supplements, I have yet to fully decide, but either way they are a delightful discovery…
Patrick Hamilton: Journey to the Unknown
Patrick Hamilton is the latest to join the ever-growing pantheon of composers creating gentle, soothing piano music in the style popularised especially by Ludovico Einaudi.
Here’s the Pianodao review of his debut piano album, “Journey to the Unknown”…
Zbigniew Bargielski: A Flea Market
Bargielski’s music is yet another unmissable highlight of the PWM catalogue, the three “Flea Market” books in particular offering a kaleidoscopic view of twentieth-century music in all its range and beauty.
Here’s a closer look at the first book…
June Armstrong: Dreams and Dragons
Offering twelve reveries for piano, “Dreams and Dragons” delivers an inspiring mix of original music for players at around UK Grade 6 level…
Discovering Chopin
For pianists at any level who are keen to explore and discover the music of Chopin (and who isn’t?), Poland’s PWM Edition offer the definitive range of sheet music publications, from easier anthologies through to the world’s finest complete editions…
Play Piano for Well-being
Having reviewed and recommended a number of Faber collections before, I have always found them enjoyable and good value.
But this one is my new favourite…
Bacewicz: Children’s Suite
Grażyna Bacewiczs “Suita dziecięca” (Children’s Suite) offers eight charming miniatures for the late-intermediate pianist, and a fascinating progression from the educational piano music of Bartók, Kabalevsky and Prokofiev.
Rachel Portman: Ask the River
Anyone wanting to move on from Einaudi to music with a similar contemporary vibe but more nuance, these consummately composed pieces offer a beautiful and evocative sound world that is at once accessible, but with plenty of their own personality.
Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora
Oxford University Press published Piano Music of Africa and the Afrian Diaspora in five volumes, compiled and edited by William H. Chapman Nyaho, between 2007-8. Between them, the books offer 60 pieces by 36 composers of African descent, organised by difficulty level…
Garreth Broke: Healing
Garreth Brooke’s music enters a crowded field of solo piano music written in an easy-going post-minimal style. But his writing is, in my view at least, a cut above that of many of his peers.
Relax with Meditative Piano
Here is a mixture of simply superb piano solo music, much of it little known but deserving global enjoyment: music that will linger in your heart for a lifetime.
There’s a danger that I’m going to get carried away here, because Relax with Meditative Piano is a book that inspires poetry in me as a reviewer.
It is just wonderful! Need I say more?
Well okay. Here’s the in-depth Pianodao review…
Andrew Higgins: Seasons
Andrew Higgins continues to impress as a highly imaginative composer, and Seasons is a brilliant addition to the EVC Music catalogue. Not only so, this small collection could make a big pedagogic impact on those who use it….
Adriano Cirillo: Deux Valses
This slight publication offers up two lovely and beautifully evocative vignettes, and I have found myself returning to them repeatedly for cultural comfort during the challenges of the present coronavirus outbreak.
Here we can revel in memories of former times, while losing ourselves in music of genuine quality and compositional ingenuity…
Pam Wedgwood: Piano Meditations
Following on from her previous collections of original pieces inspired by works of art. Piano Gallery and Piano Seascapes, Piano Meditations is the latest from best-selling composer Pam Wedgwood, brought to us as ever by publishers Faber Music.
ABRSM’s Core Classics
ABRSM’s “Core Classics” series offers a useful and often attractive mix of music that is well-suited to the board’s exam requirements, and can equally be dipped into by other players for its varied selection of benchmarked repertoire, much of it not easily accessible elsewhere.
James Welburn: Reflections in Waltz
James Welburn is back with a new collection, once more published by Musica Ferrum.
Reflections in Waltz offers seven new original pieces, once again suited to players at late-intermediate level…
My First Tchaikovsky
Wilhelm Ohmen’s My First Composers collections from Schott Music are proving to be a series which keeps on giving…
It only seems yesterday that I reviewed My First Haydn, having previously taken a look at My First Schumann and My First Beethoven. The series also includes collections of music by J.S. Bach, Mozart and Chopin.
The latest collection to join the series is My First Tchaikovsky, the subject of this new review…
‘Ragtime Blues’ and more…
Ragtime Blues and more is everything we’ve come to expect from UE’s Mike Cornick publications: there’s great variety, with a stylistically convincing range of teaching-pieces, and even the less remarkable numbers are still musically appealing and pedagogically rewarding.
This attractively presented volume is well worth a look!
Christmas Carols with a Classical Flair
For 2019, Keveren brings us a newcomer to his best-selling piano book series, “Christmas Carols with a Classical Flair”. Let’s see whether he has again struck gold
Hauschka: A Different Forest
Known professionally as Hauschka, composer Volker Bertelmann has catapulted himself into the top tier of instrumental composers…
Nikolas Sideris: Personalities
Writing a set of 18 pieces for specific students may have brought out the best in composer Nikolas Sideris…
Schubert’s “Moments musicaux”
I cannot imagine a better edition of these pieces than Wiener Urtext’s…
Jakub Metelka: Modern Piano Studies
This excellent collection of 30 miniature pieces addresses aspects both of technique and notation-reading at upper intermediate level…
Karl Jenkins: Piano
“Karl Jenkins: Piano” is proving to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding publications of the year…
The Peaceful Piano Playlist
Faber Music have brilliantly encapsulated a very current musical zeitgeist with this collection, and it deserves to simply fly off the shelves…
Alison Mathews: Landscapes
“Landscapes” is the latest collection of original music from Alison Mathews…
Bertini’s Piano Études
The book will probably need a hard sell to persuade most children and teens to dig in, but determined and enthusiastic adult learners are likely to really enjoy these studies, both for their intrinsic merits in building technique, and for their very attractive musical qualities.
Pam Wedgwood’s “Piano Seascapes”
Pam Wedgwood’s latest is a well-considered, highly worthwhile and musically enjoyable collection, and I can easily recommend you have a look for yourself!
Einaudi’s Seven Days Walking
If you are one of the millions who enjoy Einaudi’s music, hesitate not: buy the new sheet music publication right away.
Lang Lang’s Piano Book
One of the most lush publications I’ve ever seen, Lang Lang’s Piano Book delivers a superb selection of the most popular and appealing repertoire for early advanced pianists…
Small Hand Piano
Small Hand Piano is a very easy recommendation for those who struggle with larger stretches and chords…
James Welburn’s ‘Musical Escapades’
The latest publication from Editions Musica Ferrum is a collection of “Animated pieces for the intermediate pianist” called Musical Escapades and composed by EMF newcomer James Welburn.
Songs from Rainbow Hill
Songs from Rainbow Hill is the brand new album and sheet music collection by Ben Crosland…
Ragtime by Scott Joplin
Are you Ready to Play Ragtime?
Bartók: Romanian Christmas Songs
Bartók’s Romanian Christmas Songs are a fabulous masterpiece, and now available in a new authoritative edition:
Faber Christmas Piano Anthology
This is a book which has significantly raised the bar, instantly establishing itself as the new “must-have” Christmas music book.
Big Phat Jazz Piano Solos
For some time I have felt there’s space for more and better jazz publications written by true exponents of the art…
Wiener Urtext: ‘Primo’ Series
Taken as a whole the Urtext Primo series offers a significant body of traditional classical and pedagogic piano music.
Ultimate Piano Solos
This is another collection from Faber which essentially sells itself – even if you want just a few of the included pieces, you’ll not be disappointed…
Which Mikrokosmos?
In this review I will be looking at classic edition from Boosey & Hawkes, and comparing the more recent Urtext editions from Henle Verlag and Wiener Urtext Edition.
Pam Wedgwood’s ‘Piano Gallery’
“One of the best collections of original piano music that I have yet been sent for review …”
Martinů: Easy Piano Pieces & Dances
New from Bärenreiter, this fascinating new collection of accessible intermediate piano pieces by Martinů …
At the Piano: Mozart
Not to be missed: This is probably the easiest recommendation I have ever given:
Elena Kats-Chernin: “Unsent Love Letters”
The music in this collection is hauntingly beautiful. These aren’t simply pieces which I will enjoy listening to and teaching in the coming months – this is music which I anticipate loving and playing for the rest of my life.
Mike Cornick’s ‘Six Jazz Piano Solos’
Mike Cornick has an outstanding reputation for composing material of this nature and quality, deservedly so, and here again he demonstrates his ability to write educationally well-considered jazz pieces that are a cut above the rest.
Film Themes: The Piano Collection
Put simply, this is a brilliant collection for the more advanced pianist who wants to explore these movie themes and play them in intelligent piano arrangements.
Schott’s Easy Concert Pieces
Highly Recommended: new repertoire collections from Schott Music.
Simon Hester’s ‘Megabytes’
These pieces are quirky and characterful, brimming with good-natured humour, and show their composer to be absolutely at the top of his game, both in terms of his understanding of the instrument, and through the outstanding quality of musical imagination.
Christian Hartmann: Two Pieces
Per Hartmann’s independent publishing house Edition HH have produced many fine scores, and brought into the spotlight some fine classical pieces which were unjustly overlooked elsewhere…
Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection
“Not simply the best “jazz piano” publication of the year, but probably of the decade” …
Faber Music Piano Anthology
This beautifully produced gift book makes the perfect present for the enthusiastic amateur pianist of intermediate to advanced level.
“Mindfulness: The Piano Collection”
Mindfulness: The Piano Collection comes across as wholly sincere in its intentions, and a labour of love. This is a publication that I doubt you will be able to resist once you have it in your hands, so do go straight ahead and get yourself a copy!
My First Beethoven
In my recent review of Schott’s ‘My First Schumann’ I concluded : “This is a collection that will “keep on giving”, with such a great selection of pieces for students to enjoy over a number of years… ‘My First Schumann’ is a brilliant introduction to one of the world’s greatest ever piano composers. Highly Recommended!” Hot on its heels comes the latest book in the series, ‘My First Beethoven’. Can it repeat the success of the previous book? Let’s take a closer look… The Format ‘My First Beethoven’ shares the same format as the previous books by Schumann, Mozart and Bach in Schott’s Easy…
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