Intermediate pianists can be tweens, teens, adults or children.
Regardless of age, they’ve worked hard to reach this level and want music that reflects their growth and developing personal tastes. These pianists also usually want more say over what they play. They know when they like a piece and practice more when they do! Choose the right pieces and they’ll stay hooked on piano and be on their way to the more advanced levels.
I design music at the intermediate levels to be appealing, engaging, and to match the expectations of students who want to play a special sound. Yet, I tailor the musical elements to fit the needs of their continued development. Take a look at the descriptions of levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 below!
- Early Intermediate / Level 3
- Intermediate / Level 4
- Intermediate / Level 5
- Late Intermediate / Level 6
Free Printable
To get the most up-to-date list of pieces covered in this post, please download the following document:
PDF Listing of Rebekah Maxner’s Early to Late Intermediate Piano Repertoire
Early Intermediate / Level 3
- Reading notes includes use of ledger notes above and below the grand staff.
- Key signatures up to two sharps and one flat, otherwise written as accidentals.
Rhythm:
- Notes and rests up to the eighth.
- 6/8 time signature. Use of 6/8 rhythm combinations up to the eighth.
- Triplets.
- Swing rhythm.
Technical development:
- Harmonic intervals up to the seventh. Melodic octaves.
- Left hand moves independently.
- Integrated hands together, encouraging balance between hands.
- Multiple chords in one measure.
Notation samples for Early Intermediate / Level 3
Here’s the Early Intermediate / Level 3 YouTube Playlist!
Intermediate / Level 4
- Reading notes includes the whole grand staff.
- Increased use of ledger notes.
- Multiple key signatures.
Rhythm:
- Notes and rests up to the sixteenth.
- Sixteenth notes introduced. Some sixteenths with dotted rhythms.
Technical development:
- Right Hand melodies with more complicated fingerings.
- Simple LH arpeggiated lines in one direction.
- Repeated harmonic chords or patterns in the LH to be balanced against melody.
- Usually one (but sometimes two) pedal changes within one measure.
Notation samples for Intermediate / Level 4
Here’s the Intermediate / Level 4 YouTube Playlist!
Intermediate / Level 5
- Reading notes includes the whole grand staff with common use of ledger notes.
- Multiple key signatures.
Rhythm:
- Notes and rests up to the sixteenth.
- More common use of sixteenth dotted-note combinations.
Technical development:
- Hands have simultaneous articulations (legato against staccato).
- Melodies may be in both hands.
- Multiple pedal changes within one measure.
Notation samples for Intermediate / Level 5
Here’s the Intermediate / Level 5 YouTube Playlist!
Late Intermediate / Level 6
- Use of the entire notational range of the piano.
- Multiple key signatures.
Rhythm:
- All notes up to sixteenth notes, including various dotted combinations.
- Irregular rhythmic groups between the hands.
Technical development:
- Longer scalar passages.
- Melodic lines in both hands; polyphony.
- Within one hand, division between two simple lines.
- Chords requiring larger hand stretches.
Notation samples for Late Intermediate / Level 6
Here’s the Late Intermediate / Level 6 YouTube Playlist!
Free Printable
Remember to download the most up-to-date list of my Early to Late Intermediate pieces! Please go to my Printables for the following document:
PDF Listing of Rebekah Maxner’s Early to Late Intermediate Piano Repertoire
About the composer bust
The composer bust was produced by 3dMENOW at HAL-CON 2018. I went with my kids, who were dressed up as a Jedi Knight, Pidge (from Voltron) and Eevee (a Pokémon). I was dressed up as the Unsinkable Molly Brown from the Titanic. In the trade show section we met a teenager who had started a business of printing busts of people in 3D. I thought it would be hilarious to have a composer bust. Once in the booth, the young man and his dad recognized me and asked if I was Rebekah Maxner, the composer. They had played my music! The young man then scanned me with his iPad and a few weeks later, the 3D-printed bust came in the mail. My piano students think it’s spooky! ~ Rebekah
More Levels from Rebekah Maxner
Elementary piano students imagine themselves playing big sounds! For your early-level students you want pieces that give the thrill of playing great music yet teach the basics…and music that can please audiences for performances. I aspire to create music that fulfills student wishes and teachers’ requirements. This post comes with a free printable to help make it easy for you to select the very best pieces for your students at the right levels. Keep reading >>
Advanced pianists choose repertoire wisely, as music at this level demands significant investment of time and emotion. Here are repertoire selections by Rebekah Maxner for consideration. This post comes with a free printable to help make it easy for you to select the very best pieces for your students at the right levels. Keep reading >>
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I appreciate shares, comments and likes. Happy teaching! ❤
Video of the Week
North Star (Intermediate Level 4). North Star is available as an eSheet!
Rebekah Maxner 