Summer seems to be the perfect time to shift the focus to pop and other “fun” music for piano students.  It seems to always be a struggle to find good pop arrangements for my younger students but I’ve recently found some great books that I thought I’d share with you.

1.)  Movie Heroes:  There are four versions of this, 5-Finger Movie Heroes and Movie Heroes for Students Books 1, 2, and 3.  I was so excited when I found these (and so were my students!).  These are perfect for your boy students who love the Marvel comic book heroes.  The 5-Finger book is very accessible for elementary students, book 1 is great for late elementary students.  They are arranged by Tom Gerou and published by Alfred, and they are also very affordable.  Pop books tend to be more expensive, but there are under ten dollars each.

2.)  Popular Piano Solos and More Popular Piano Solos:  These correspond by levels with the Hal Leonard Student Piano library, but can be a great supplement to any method book.  These have a good assortment of songs, including Disney movies, cartoons, and well known popular music.  Nothing brand new like Taylor Swift or One Direction, but there will at least be some songs your students will recognize.

3.) Harry Potter Magical Music:  Published by Alfred, this is another one that has multiple versions for different levels of students.  The 5-finger book is still a little challenging for younger students, simply because of the complexity of the music.  There are lots of accidentals and challenging rhythms, even when it is reduced down to just a melody line, but for your bright student ready for a challenge it could be great.  The Big-Note version is also good for early intermediate students.

4.) Best of Taylor Swift Songbook:  I have so many little girls dying to play Taylor Swift songs, but don’t let them be fooled by the “Easy Piano” songbooks for sale, those are not easy!  I was pleased when I saw this “Best of” beginning songbook in Hal Leonard’s recent pop catalog.  Although still not an elementary level book, this early intermediate songbook is much more accessible.  I also saw this 5-finger book listed, but I don’t have any personal experience with it, so I’m not sure about the difficulty.

These are just a few collections that I’ve found useful recently, and my students have really enjoyed.  Are there some other great pop books that you like to use?

Author: Spring

Spring Seals, NCTM, teaches 60 piano students ranging from age 3 to 70 in Fort Worth, Texas. She also serves as the Director of Certification for TMTA. She is passionate about helping teachers become more effective in their studios through professional development, new resources, and fresh ideas.