Last Updated on 2022-11-16 | Originally Posted on 2017-10-01
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Please Be Careful When Shopping Amazon
This warning is a bit tl;drtoo long; didn’t read; my apologies in advance! Please read the visible part, and click Read More to get the whole story.
All of the links below, unless otherwise marked, are to Amazon.com. When I post an Amazon link, it’s because I have verified that the book is Sold and Shipped by Amazon.com. That could change without my knowledge. Please pay attention that the book you are buying is Sold and Shipped by Amazon.com. That usually guarantees that you will be paying at most the publisher’s retail price, and sometimes a small discount.
If you suspect you’re seeing a price above retail – it’s rare, but I’ve seen it happen – you can always check the title at a full-priced site like Sheet Music Plus.
In those cases where I can’t find a book being consistently offered by Amazon.com at a good price, you have other options. You can order it through a brick-and-mortar music store. Or, you can order it through Sheet Music Plus. I place music orders for myself a couple of times a year through Cliff Hill Music. If I’m about to place an order, I’m happy to commingle your order and pass on whatever discount I receive plus pro-rate the shipping charges.
Some independent publishers like Piano Safari and Piano Pronto only sell directly via their own Websites. I can procure any Piano Safari books for you at a small discount. If you need to order through Piano Pronto, please do it through their Website. They offer all of their softcover books as instant downloads as well, in case you need something quickly or you prefer to save on shipping. I value their newsletter because it informs me to their rotating sales plus frequently offers freebie downloads.
Method Books
Piano Safari
For students who start lessons with me, or transfer into my studio at a beginner level, I typically recommend switching to Piano Safari. There are separate series for children and older learners. The older learner series is for anyone around 10 or older, though I choose this more for kids than for adults.
To learn more about my use of Piano Safari in lessons, please visit this link.
Faber Adult Piano Adventures
I would encourage you to check out Volume 1 on the Faber Website. It’s a decent alternative to the Piano Safari Older Student series. I would suggest purchasing these, though, on Amazon.com. I list the cheaper spiral-bound version, but you can pick up the CD/DVD version for a few dollars more.
Although I like All-in-One approach, I do also like the Accelerated Piano Adventures as well. It is broken into component books, like the approach for children. However, when I teach Faber, I only use the Lesson and Performance books, because I can cover the other material in my own way.
Faber Piano Adventures All-in-One Course Book 1
Faber Piano Adventures All-in-One Course Book 2
Faber Piano Adventures Accelerated Lesson Book 1
Faber Piano Adventures Accelerated Performance Book 1
Faber Piano Adventures Accelerated Lesson Book 2
Faber Piano Adventures Accelerated Performance Book 2
How to Look Inside Piano Books
If you’ve ever shopped paperback or hardcover books on Amazon.com, you’ve used their Look Inside technology to preview your selections. However, you may have noticed that you can rarely preview music books.
There are two levels of help. If you are just browsing books in general, without a particular publisher in mind, go first to Sheet Music Plus. They have many of the same previews you will see on music publishers’ Websites.
However, if you do know the publisher, go directly to their Website. Some publishers are more generous in samples than others. Sometimes the links are easy to find, and sometimes you really have to dig.
Repertoire Books
Standard Repertoire Collections
I use two sets of standard repertoire books: Alfred’s Masterworks Classics, edited by Jane Magrath, and the FJH Festival Collection, edited by Helen Marlais. When I took the project to find the best repertoire books for my studio, I found that I couldn’t decide between these two choices. Therefore, I use both!
The Magrath editions are lightly edited, a good thing, but the repertoire selection stops in the 20th Century (no living composers). Also, the included CD is only valuable to those students who have a CD or DVD player. The Marlais books are more heavily edited, which I don’t like. However, it includes living composers and the recordings are available via download code.
The Level numbers are only important within a particular series. If you complete Alfred Masterworks Level 2, go to Level 3 in the same series. However, between series, there are often disparities: Alfred Masterworks (Magrath) Level 3 is roughly equivalent to FJH Festival (Marlais) Level 2.
Alfred’s Masterworks Classics (Magrath)
Masterworks Classics – Levels 1 & 2 (One Book)
Masterworks Classics – Level 3
Masterworks Classics – Level 4
Masterworks Classics – Level 5
FJH Festival Collection (Marlais)
FJH Festival Collection – Preparatory Book
FJH Festival Collection – Book 1
FJH Festival Collection – Book 2
FJH Festival Collection – Book 3
FJH Festival Collection – Book 4
FJH Festival Collection – Book 5
FJH Festival Collection – Book 6
Sonata/Sonatina Collections
These collections are listed in order of difficulty, covering the beginner and intermediate levels. I only include here easy-to-obtain collections since preparing for festivals often means getting music in a timely manner.
I also like some harder-to-obtain collections and single copies that need to be ordered in advance with a music store. They are not listed here.
Poe, John Robert
Silly Sonatinas: Four Non-Traditional Sonatinas in Traditional Form – Early to Mid Beginner
Olson, Lynn Freeman
Beginning Sonatinas: Five Original Works in Varying Styles for the Early Grades – Mid to Late Beginner
Bastien, Jane Smisor
Three Mini Sonatinas – Mid Beginner
First Sonatinas – Late Beginner
Piano Sonatinas, Book One (Faber)
Piano Sonatinas, Book One – Faber – Late Beginner – Early Intermediate
Sonatina Masterworks, Book 1
Sonatina Masterworks, Book 1 – Alfred/Magrath – Late Beginner – Early Intermediate
Sonatina Masterworks, Book 2
Sonatina Masterworks, Book 2 – Alfred/Magrath – Early to Mid Intermediate
Clementi Six Sonatinas and Much More
Sonatina Album: A Collection of Favorite Sonatinas, Rondos, and Other Pieces for the Piano – Early Intermediate to Early Advanced
Single Composer Collections
Bach, J.S.
Inventions and Sinfonias: Two- and Three-Part Inventions (Alfred Masterwork Edition) – Advanced
Burgmüller, Friedrich
Twenty-Five Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100 – Early Intermediate
Eklund, Jennifer (Piano Pronto)
The two sets of books are offered as the most popular choices among a very large selection offered by Piano Pronto. The Songs I Love to Play are tasteful arrangements of harder classical arrangements, whereas the Spotlight Solos are original compositions by Eklund. Supplemental books like these can help offer students the variety they need to stay motivated to practice.
Songs I Love to Play (Vol. 1) – Late Beginner (PianoPronto.com)
Songs I Love to Play (Vol. 2) – Early Intermediate (PianoPronto.com)
Spotlight Solos (Vol. 1) – Late Beginner (PianoPronto.com)
Spotlight Solos (Vol. 2) – Early Intermediate (PianoPronto.com)
Kabalevsky, Dmitri
24 Pieces for Children, Op. 39: Piano Solo (Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics) – Mid to Late Beginner
Schumann, Robert
Schumann – Album for the Young, Op. 68 – With 2 CDs – Intermediate
Schumann – Album for the Young, Op. 68 – No CDs – Intermediate
Jazz Collections
I am currently only listing the resources by Christopher Norton, though there are other good choices offered by Forrest Kinney and Bradley Sowash that I will eventually add. The sequence numbers in this series are only meaningful. Microjazz 1 would be equivalent to Level 2 or Level 3 in other repertoire or exam series.
Christopher Norton’s Microjazz
Technique
Scales Book
The Complete Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios, etc – Late Beginner to Advanced
Czerny, Carl
Although these books can be purchased in bound form with the links below, I recommend you print these and put them in a 3-ring binder yourself. The download links are available through MyMusicStaff – Online Resources.
- Practical Method for Beginners on the Piano, Op. 599 – Late Beginner – Mid-Intermediate
- One Hundred Progressive Studies for the Piano, Op. 139 – Early Intermediate – Late Intermediate
- 125 Exercises for Passage Playing, Op. 261 – Late Intermediate – Advanced
How to Practice
Practice Pie – Nicola Cantan’s step-by-step guide to helping your child enjoy their music practice.
Theory Textbooks
There are lots of ways to get good fundamental theory training, without having to buy any special book. All of my method books have it included. I have access to an entire syllabus from the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association.
However, if you’re a high school student or adult, and want a separate choice of books, here are two I can recommend. The first book might be all you need. The second one is a textbook used at many of the leading music conservatories, including Juilliard. I bought it but have not cracked the spine.
Barron’s AP Music Theory – Nancy Fuller Scoggin
The Complete Musician – Steven G. Laitz
Miscellaneous
Little Red Book
Wide Staff Manuscript Paper – Can also be purchased at Musicworks or any music store
Metronome
My favorite Seiko analog metronome is available once again. It has a dial, which you’ll love when you want to go from slow to fast in a quick turn. I also list two other digital models, of which I prefer the Korg. If you want a phone app instead, I would recommend the paid version of the Tempo – Metronome with Setlist (iOS and Android).
While I love the traditional Wittner mahogany pendulum metronome that sits on top of my Yamaha U1, it’s not suitable for most kids. However, if you want an old-fashioned mechanical metronome, this is the brand. It’s available in several sizes, and built in plastic or wood.
Seiko SQ50-V Quartz Metronome – This is the favorite metronome of musicians for several decades.
Korg MA-2 Digital Metronome (Red & Black) – This model also comes in blue, so check to see which one is cheaper. It has several functions, but it doesn’t appear to be built to last.
Seiko DM51B Metronome – If you’re looking for a digital model, I prefer the Korg instead due to its several functions this one doesn’t have.
Zoom Recorders
Zoom Q2N-4K Handy Video Recorder with XY Microphone – Video Recorder
Zoom H4n Pro 4-Track Portable Recorder – Digital Audio Recorder (No Video)