The intermediate level can be a tricky stage for young pianists – tutor books are no longer there to guide progress, and the temptation exists to hop from one grade book to the next, which is often both uninspiring and pedagogically deficient. Thankfully, collections such as the Grooves for Piano Dudes by Heather Hammond provide repertoire that is both motivating and pedagogically enriching for pupils at this stage of learning.
Each book includes a variety of pieces encompassing the swing, blues, jazz and tango styles that teachers have come to expect from the composer. Within these styles, the pieces vary enormously in character so there is no sense of there being ‘more of the same', and a pupil could quite happily play through the books without any sense of repetition. For example, in Book 2 the tense Situation Critical encourages pupils towards a thriller movie vibe, whereas Wipe those Tears Away is lyrical and touching, making different expressive demands on the performer.
Book 3 contains some more challenging repertoire than Book 2. It could potentially be overlooked due to its Halloween theme but is completely suitable for use throughout the year. Each piece is prefaced with amusing rhyming couplets which help to fire the imagination. Ghostly Legionnaire's March and Baby Vampire's Lullaby are both superbly evocative pieces – each just one page – that are very approachable from a reading perspective but work pupils’ rhythmic, technical and interpretative skills in ways that will transfer seamlessly to ‘classical’ pieces and spark discussion and comparison to their classical counterparts. Midnight Ball Rendezvous is another brilliant piece which works the skills required for playing a waltz, and Tomb of the Unknown Egyptian provides an excellent opportunity for honing pedalling skills and balance between the hands, as well as being a very evocative piece that is sure to fire the imagination.
The eye-catching rainbow-coloured covers of both books of Grooves for Piano Dudes will have instant appeal regardless of age or gender. A QR code to access recordings of all pieces is included, providing a useful resource for encouraging detailed listening between lessons.
Both volumes of Grooves for Piano Dudes would be a sound choice for teachers looking for repertoire for pupils at the intermediate level to inspire pupils and develop their skills between grades. The vibrancy of the pieces also makes them a perfect choice to use as free choice repertoire for recorded performance examinations, as well as concert and festival performances. As a teacher, I can see many of these pieces becoming firm favourites with the many pupils I teach at this level.
