Ensuring that you are progressing and improving on your instrument of choice is important. At first, the improvements can be quite rapid depending on how much you practice and the type of practice you do. however, as you progress, noticeable improvements may be less obvious. and may take longer to achieve.
When you’ve reached the middle stage, you should be practicing the right things to get to the next level. finding the best piano books for intermediate level musicians will help.
You are reading: Piano books for intermediate
practice doesn’t make perfect
“practice makes perfect” is a saying that is sure to be familiar to you. but it is a fallacy. “good” practice makes perfect. just practicing isn’t going to do much at all.
the intermediate stage
Beginning on your piano journey is an important time. but, moving through the intermediate stage is vital. ultimately it will decide if you are going to be an average player or a very good pianist.
It’s about ensuring that the fundamental techniques for playing the piano are firmly anchored in what you do. therefore, the curriculum you are following should get you where you need to be.
To this end, I’ve created a list of books that will point you in the right direction. So, let’s take a look at them, starting with…
reviews of the 7 best piano books for intermediate players on the market in 2022
1 the giant book of music
let’s start with the schirmer classical music library. This is a book that is widely known and respected as a very effective teaching aid. there are several books in this series for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. we are looking only at the intermediate level.
a classic slant
In this book there are 269 pieces in more than 380 pages composed by some of the best composers in the world. So, it is a book with a very marked classical bent. it is one of the world’s best sellers for intermediate piano students and is rated 5 stars by many publications.
a variety of classical music
The range of classical music is wide and includes most of the best. special attention is paid to the works of chopin, beethoven, mozart, bach and schumann. while the music included would be considered classical, not all of it comes from the “classical” period.
provides not only practice but a precise study of each of the pieces. And since the styles included are so varied, there’s sure to be plenty of music to appeal to everyone.
skill level
One of the nice things about this book is that they’ve included a variety of pieces categorized by skill. they fall right at what you might describe as the upper and lower limits of the intermediate level.
This is especially suitable for those who have just moved up to this higher level. that means for beginners or advanced; there are some easier intermediate pieces. this will give you the introduction to the more complex pieces to come.
but also, for those who might be about to move on to more challenging pieces, there are some more “advanced” intermediate pieces to study.
technical advantages
During the baroque period, many composers combined two aspects in their music. First of all, it had to be pleasant and uplifting to listen to. probably with a strong religious bias.
but they also wrote them so they could be used as technical game exercises for the students they taught. js bach was particularly known for this. you’ll find quite a few of those pieces included in this book.
what do I think?
Much of the included music is perfect for taking players to the next level. there is a huge list of music and songs to achieve it. if there is something negative, it is that there is not much technical instruction. the price is reasonable, and it’s obvious why it’s a popular piano teaching aid.
2 classic to modern for intermediate players
This is a teaching book that doesn’t have as many pieces included as some, but offers a bit more in terms of instruction.
what is included
You will find many of the great composers included. but as you might guess from the title, some more modern works are included as well. is full of great compositions that piano students will love.
This is certainly not a book for beginners. gives you 115 pieces that vary in complexity but are all for the intermediate level player.
instructional notes
includes guidance and help in all the genres it deals with. this includes instructional titles and notes that are presented for easy recall. that way, you have a little more to offer as an instructor.
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difficulty level
As I said, this is not a beginner’s book and is aimed at the upper intermediate player. will assume that you have mastered certain techniques and have already reached an intermediate level.
That said, all included music can be played. but some, as you will see, will require more practice and work than others. that’s a good thing, of course, as it starts to push you and improve your standards.
You will find that most of the music in this book is perfect for presentations. but it also acts as a preparation to advance further in your studies.
what do I think?
There is no doubt that this is a quality piano instruction guide for the intermediate player. covers a range of styles in various genres, both modern and classic. that can be an advantage for those people who don’t just want to play classical piano music.
The negative aspects may be that there is no specific sequence of exercises to follow. a further idea is that since this can be used on the bookstand, it would be better if it was spiral bound. that would make it easier to turn the pages. however, a great book that will help the intermediate player.
3 easy piano classics
This is another book some may be familiar with as it has been a proven resource. It is a sequel to another book by Ronald Herder, “Favorite Piano Classics”. its title, “easy”, is a bit misleading, and I’ll revisit it a bit later.
teaching the classics
This is a book much appreciated by lovers of the classics. ninety-seven pieces cover all the great historical periods of music from the masters to the intermediate player.
Parts that can be rated in terms of complexity are included. and some are easier to play than others. therefore, it is an ideal volume for those who are just entering an intermediate stage of perfecting their piano playing.
At the other end of the scale, some pieces will test you as you progress to a more advanced style of play. all of which makes it one of the best piano books for intermediate level musicians.
what’s inside?
As you would expect from a book that focuses on the great masters, the names will be familiar to you. but so will some of the pieces. You’ll find works by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Chopin and Bach. of grieg, liszt, schubert, debussy and mendelssohn.
But then, to add just a hint of later composers, there’s Scott Joplin’s Bethena, A Concert Waltz, written in 1905. You’ll also find some of the most popular piano concerto pieces to have under your belt. like a musician:
- beethoven, für elise.
- brahms, five waltzes.
- grieg, grandmother’s minuet.
- mendelssohn, gondola song Venetian.
- and many others.
This is a piano music book that is not just for improving your skills. is a book that deserves a place on your bookshelf as a great music resource for the intermediate player.
but you should keep in mind that this is probably not a book for those at the lower end of the middle scale. most of the pieces are intermediate to upper-intermediate and will certainly put you to the test. they are not overly simplified and will certainly require some work.
Is it “easy”?
For the intermediate player, you won’t find much in this book that you can realistically call “easy.” therefore, the title is a bit of a misnomer.
To get the most out of this book, you’ll need a certain level of understanding of music theory and its application. You’ll also need to be up to speed on your scales and notation and be able to play different parts with your left and right hand.
what do I think?
certainly not a book for the faint-hearted. this will put you to the test, so don’t be fooled by the word “easy” in the title. easy for some, but they are probably playing orchestral concerts in berlin, vienna or london. however, it is a book that will improve you if you work diligently with it.
a negative aspect has nothing to do with the content, but rather with the way it is presented. the text and notation are quite small and not easy to read.
4 intermediate wunderkeys
This is a book about a problem that recently arose. the story of the piano student was usually that they sat at the piano and diligently did their scales and practice.
That’s probably still the case for younger students, but it doesn’t seem to apply to some of the teen variety. As students get older, the more traditional ways of learning to play the piano seem less appealing. they look for shortcuts to “get to the music faster”.
no shortcuts
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. you have to master the basics, or you’re not going anywhere. Those boring, “out of fashion” piano skill development exercises are vital. avoid them and you might as well give up the idea of becoming a good pianist in any genre.
You need scale practice, sight reading, rhythm development, and theory. without it, you’ll end up frustrated that others can do things you can’t. your progress and improvement will stop.
There has to be a solution to the problem. and forcing them to do these exercises is not the way. you have to find a way to get these students to do them without realizing they’re doing it.
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the solution
That’s where this book comes in. wunderkeys intermediate is a book that allows you to reinforce your left hand scales, chords and patterns in a different format. Using this book, they will get better because they want to get better, not because they have to.
students use powerful pop music, much of which they will be familiar with, to improve their skills. they will use a variety of keys and different hand positions and finger patterns. all of which help them develop the skills they need to become better pianists.
not just pop music
This book offers a look at each genre, exposing the student to various styles and forms of playing. he is well aware of the need to be able to use his hands to form triads and other techniques. and offers exercises as well as an instruction and notes section on those techniques. it offers simple explanations and descriptions, which is one of its great points in favor.
what do I think?
Whatever it takes for people to practice must be a good thing. but to reiterate one of my opening statements, “good practice makes perfect. bad practice is a waste of time.”
but what this book does is add an additional interest value to the music. this, he hopes, will keep the student fully engaged in their improvement and ultimate progress.
Is there anything negative? it’s just that some people will prefer the values of learning the piano the traditional way using the classics. If you’re convinced that’s the way to learn, this book probably isn’t for you.
john thompson piano course 5 for intermediate players
from a didactic resource aimed at younger students, let’s move on to something for the, let’s say, more mature student. And I mean age, not mindset.
This is a piano course for intermediate musicians created with the older student at the forefront of its thinking. therefore, the study contained in this book is going to be very different from the last option.
same destination but sometimes a different journey
the goal of junior and adult students is basically the same. to be as good as you can be. but sometimes the journey towards that goal can take different routes. the last book suggested a more modern route. this is a very traditional path.
compiled for adults
These books for intermediate learners have been compiled for adults. they contain a mix of some of the great classical piano pieces. but they also have some well-known folk and traditional songs.
encourages the student to be thoughtful and artistic in the way they approach songs and music. interpreting the music in a very traditional way.
an audio track
There is an audio track that accompanies the paperback, which can be downloaded or simply streamed. It is accessed through the Leonard Hall system called MyLibrary and has some cool features that you can use. These are some of them:
- slow down the audio without changing the key to help with practice.
- change keys if you wish.
- pan left or right.
- set loop points for continuous playback of a section.
At an affordable price, the book covers technical aspects and basic fundamentals for the intermediate player.
what do I think?
a very well put together book and audio package that is aimed at the intermediate level adult gamer. the fact that familiar songs are used throughout is a bonus. and the instruction includes sections on how the piece should sound. it will suit the adult learner more than the younger intermediate.
some more options…
Before I wrap up this look at the best piano books for intermediate musicians, there are a couple of publications that also deserve a mention.
piano masterpieces: intermediate level
This is a collection of some of the most popular classical piano pieces. while they are for intermediate players, they are not the most difficult to play. It would be fair to say that many of them cross that bridge from beginner/improver to intermediate. It has a good price.
100 patterns for the left hand that every pianist should know
For those who may have trouble playing with their left hand, this is an ideal book to have. This book covers a range from lower intermediate to upper intermediate. and addresses one of the big problems that many players encounter, that of left hand coordination.
isolates the left hand and gives you some useful piano exercises for the left hand to counteract any problems. worth considering if you have that problem.
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best piano books for intermediate musicians – conclusion
These are some of the best books for the intermediate pianist who wants to improve. I hope they will be of great use to any type of intermediate level pianist. but above all, I hope these books motivate you to keep going. the rewards are well worth it.
so, until next time, let your music play.