Blog Posts

My 5 Easiest Pop Arrangements for Early Beginners!

4/8/2026

Do you have beginners who have just started reading on the staff, but are itching to play a familiar piece that sounds "big"? Then today's post is for you!

Today I am sharing my top 5 easiest pop arrangements for primer level students. Each piece includes a teacher duet part that makes even your littlest students sound "big"--perfect for a first recital!

Keep reading to see the list...

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Teaching Modern Music, Part 1: Non-Traditional Scales

3/20/2026

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I recently came across an interesting discussion in a piano teachers’ forum about teaching modern music. How can we inspire students who are more comfortable with pop music to listen to (and to play) pieces that use contemporary sounds?

It’s true that the majority of our students are most familiar with the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic language of Western European classical music and pop music. However, you might be surprised by how many non-traditional sounds appear in the music of popular genres and even in current teaching pieces!

With that in mind, I’m launching a new blog series that highlights popular music incorporating contemporary elements, alongside my own works for students that introduce modern sounds in an approachable and engaging way.

By sharing these listening examples with our students and having them study accessible pieces that use contemporary elements, we can create a frame of reference that makes it possible for us to introduce students at any level to the vibrant colors and interesting sounds found in modern music.

First up, we will be exploring pieces using non-traditional scales: meaning scales outside of the standard major and minor that our students are most familiar with.

Keep reading to learn more…

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Free Easter Music for 2026!

3/13/2026

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Easter is approaching quickly, and today I am sharing an updated list of my FREE Easter arrangements for students, from the primer to late elementary levels!

Keep reading to get your free copies of 6 Easter favorites...

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Introducing "More Rhapsodies and Reveries"

2/18/2026

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I am excited to share that the fifth volume in my popular "Rhapsodies and Reveries" series is now available at Piano Pronto!

"More Rhapsodies and Reveries" features 9 expressive solos for early to mid-intermediate pianists. These pieces range in style from quite and reflective to fiery and dramatic, and they serve as stepping stones for students who are preparing to make the jump to playing intermediate level pieces in the standard classical repertoire.

See and hear every piece in the new collection HERE!

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5 Popular Pieces You Can Teach by Rote

2/13/2026

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The idea of rote teaching is not new, but it has resurged in popularity over the last few years.

If you are looking for ways to incorporate rote teaching in your studio but aren't sure where to start, this article may help! Today I am sharing 5 popular pieces that can be taught by rote to students from the early beginner level. I'll also share the reasons why rote teaching might benefit your students, and what to look for when choosing rote-teachable pieces.

Keep reading to see the list...

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My 5 Easiest Pop Arrangements for Early Beginners!

Teaching Modern Music, Part 1: Non-Traditional Scales

Free Easter Music for 2026!

Introducing "More Rhapsodies and Reveries"

5 Popular Pieces You Can Teach by Rote

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