Preparatory A consists of one volume. The Piano Repertoire book is a collection of delightful pieces from all over the globe and several centuries. From Early Elementary to Elementary, this book is useful as students make the transition from beginner piano books into repertoire that will expand their scope and imaginations. This blog post features trusted YouTube video performances of music from the book.
Prep A Repertoire
Early Elementary to Elementary piano repertoire.
Click here to listen to RCM Prep A one video at a time.
Integrated hands separate
These pieces play back and forth between hands and cleverly avoid hands playing together. Yet, the integration develops coordination as the hands to learn how to work together.
The Juggler – contrasting touches of staccato and legato, and special focus on space C’s
On the Trampoline – chords (triads), staccatos and accents, and RH sixths
Criss Cross – one hand plays repeated keys while the upper hand criss crosses and plays piano keys higher and lower
Sleigh Bells – contrasting touches of staccato and legato, and LH fourths and fifths
Hands separate with limited hands together
These pieces either develop melodic playing in one hand with occasional harmonic support from the other hand, or have a combination of integrated hands separate, melody lines and harmony.
Bluebottle – the music spins with the fourth intervals and strong beat
Giraffe – interval of a fifth, shaping two note slurs, and playing across the piano
Owl in the Night – shaping phrases, imitation between hands, and c minor (with accidentals)
Bumper Cars – cross-hand slurs and accents
The Haunted Mouse – playing staccato thirds lightly, and cross-hand slurs
A Skating Waltz – balancing LH melody and RH waltz pattern, and RH sixths
Around a Roundabout – cross-hand phrases with simple HT cadences (phrase endings), as well as syncopations
Prickly Pear Rag – cross-hand slurs with simple HT sections, as well as syncopations
The Wandering Ogre – reading both hands in bass clef, low ledger lines
Baby Kangaroo – cross-hand interplay with HT phrase endings, and opposite touches of staccato and legato
Hands together
These pieces have fully developed parts in both hands and require very good listening and balance between the hands. The hand with the melody will sing with more brightness and pressure into the keys, while the accompaniment will stay in the background with a lighter touch.
Allegro in C Major op. 1, no. 4 – balance between singing melody and softer accompaniment
Melody in G Major op. 101, no. 39 – balance between singing notes in RH and keeping busier LH accompaniment softer
Ladybug Waltz – broken chords (triads) and contrary motion
Barefoot on the Beach – cross-hand staccato phrases and hands together in parallel motion
Sleepy Head – D Major key signature
Smooth and Crunchy – syncopation and opposite touches of staccato and legato
Spooky titles
The Haunted Mouse – playing staccato thirds lightly, and cross-hand slurs
The Haunted Harp – black and white key rote piece, and playing across the piano
What’s that Noise?
Owl in the Night – shaping phrases, imitation between hands, and c minor (with accidentals)
The Wandering Ogre – reading both hands in bass clef, ledger lines below the staff
Winter titles
A Skating Waltz – balancing LH melody and RH waltz pattern, and RH sixths
Sleigh Bells – contrasting touches of staccato and legato, and LH fourths and fifths
Rebekah Maxner’s Prep A Repertoire
Consider teaching supplementary Elementary, Prep A music by Rebekah Maxner. From action pieces to character pieces, from spirited to expressive, the music in this YouTube playlist can be learned for growth, recitals and music festival classes.
This music is available in print and eBooks and as studio-licensed eSheets.
Click here to listen to Rebekah Maxner’s Prep A repertoire one video at a time.
Blog post: Maxner’s Early to Late Elementary Repertoire
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 fundamental skills…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 >>
To find out more about teacher’s choice selections, please watch this webinar conducted by the RCM!
Feedback
Because I’m using content developed by others, occasionally it will get deleted by the original creator. It will be impossible for me to keep track of it all, so if you notice that a piece has suddenly gone missing from a playlist, please contact me! I’ll find a replacement lickety-split!
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Video of the Week
A Little Piece of History (Elementary, Prep A). This piece is in the Classical style and the broken C chords in the left hand are a very early intro to broken chords, or Alberti bass. Play with an elegant non-legato except for the three-note slurs. In line three the harmonies sound like hunting horns. Available as the studio-licensed bundle, which comes with three titles, including the A Little Piece of History eSheet!
Rebekah Maxner 