By now you have probably heard a lot of chatter in the Teach Piano Today community about the “Sessions Books”…
“This is the best piano book ever!! My students and parents both love it. I even have a few parents playing out of it when their kids aren’t around.”
“Finally, music my tween and teen students really WANT to play! Such a wonderful combination of classical and modern music that’s beautiful to listen to and a joy to play!”
Now that we have just released The Sebastian Sessions: Classical Pop Piano Music Inspired By Bach on Amazon, you can choose from five different “Sessions Books” to inspire your teen students!
But with five books to choose from, you are probably wondering how to select the right Sessions Book for each of your teen students!
So, today we are sharing a detailed leveling guide for all of our “Sessions Books”. With summer break just around the corner, these books represent your best shot at getting teen students to hit the piano bench while formal lessons are on hiatus.
How To Pair Your Teen Piano Students With These Books
Our “Sessions Books” (as teachers now call them) are collections of classical pop piano solos for tweens, teens, and adults. In each book, we’ve taken musical themes from a composer and then added a pop flair to bridge the gap between classical music and Top 40 tunes. And the result? Well, one teacher recently had this to say about the Sessions Series:
“I found out this book is genius for today’s students. These series of books provide a pop feel to songs inspired by classic composers that kids who otherwise refuse to play classical pieces LOVE! I am now able to introduce them to the inspired pieces of music and assign the pop version which they are very excited to play.”
If you’re excited about introducing your teens to the Sessions Books, here’s a leveling guide that will help you pick just the right book for each of your students. Want to see the music too? You can “look inside” all of our books on Amazon (on a computer, not a device) by clicking on the link below each book description.
Let’s Get Started With The Leveling Guide
The Amadeus Anthems
The Amadeus Anthems is a collection of 7 piano solos based on Mozart’s themes. You’ll find pop reimaginings of Sonata No 16. in C Major, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, Minuet in F Major, Sonata No. 11 in A Major, Rondo Alla Turca and a theme from The Magic Flute. This book has a mixture of hard-hitting rockin’ tunes and soft, heartfelt melodies. Check out more information below to pair this book with your students who are working at a Level 3 in most method books:
Keys: C Major, F Major, A Major, A Minor, G Minor, D Major, G Major
Suitability for Small Hands: A reach of an octave is required in 4 of the pieces, but is easily modified for small hands.
Rhythmic Complexity: Easy to medium with 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures. Sixteenth notes are found in just one of the pieces. Left-hand accompaniments are often pattern-based to assist coordination.
The Beethoven Sessions
This book is a collection of 7 piano solos based on Beethoven’s themes. You’ll find pop-flavored renditions of Sonatina in G Major, Fur Elise, The Moonlight Sonata, Rondo A Capriccio, Symphony No. 5, Piano Sonata No. 8, Op 13 and Symphony No 9 (Ode To Joy). This book has a mixture of showstopping fast numbers and sweet, soaring melodies. Check out more information below to pair this book with your students who are working at a Level 4 in most method books:
Keys: G Major, E Major, A Minor, C Minor, D Major, C Major
Suitability for Small Hands: A reach of an octave is required in 4 of the pieces, but can be easily modified for small hands
Rhymic Complexity: Medium with 4/4 and 6/8 time signatures. Left-hand accompaniments are often pattern-based to assist with coordination.
The Victress Sessions
This book is a collection of 7 pieces by 7 different female composers. You’ll find modern arrangements of pieces by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Louise Ferrenc, Maira Szymanowska, Agathe Backer Grøndahl and Teresa Carreño that will inspire your students to expand their repertoire choices and investigate the fascinating lives of these women. Check out more information below to pair this book with your students who are working at a Level 4 in most method books.
Keys: A Major, Ab Major, G Major, D Minor, A Minor, G Minor, Bb Major
Suitability for Small Hands: A reach of an octave is required in 3 of the pieces, but can be easily modified for small hands.
Rhythmic Complexity: Medium with 4/4, 6/8 and 12/8 time signatures and occasional mid-piece changes of time signature.
The Chopin Sessions
This book is a collection of 7 piano solos based on Chopin’s themes. You’ll find pop versions of The Raindrop Prelude, Nocturne in Eb Major, Etude in E major, Waltz in C# Minor, Sonata No. 2 in Bb Minor, Waltz in Db Major and Prelude in E minor. If you have students who yearn to play Chopin but aren’t quite ready for the “real thing” then this book can help boost their skills while providing the aural feedback they crave. Check out more information below to pair this book with your students who are working at a Level 4 or higher.
Keys: D Major, Eb Major, E Major, D Minor, G Major
Suitability for Small Hands: A reach of an octave is required in most pieces.
Rhythmic Complexity: Medium in 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 and 6/4 time signatures.
The Sebastian Sessions
This book is a collection of 7 piano solos based on J.S. Bach’s themes. You’ll find pop reimaginings of Prelude in C Major, Musette in D Major, Minuet in D Minor, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Orchestral Suite III in D Major “Air”, Minuet in G Minor, and Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. This book mixes Bach’s most well-known themes with the pop sounds your teen students love. Many teachers have even used it for performances in church and at weddings! Check out more information below to pair this book with your students who are working at a Level 4 or higher.
Keys: C Major, D Major, D Minor, G Major, G Minor, C Minor
Suitability for Small Hands: A reach of an octave is required in most pieces but can be easily modified for small hands.
Rhythmic Complexity: Medium with 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8 time signatuers. Several pieces contain sixteenth notes.
Pair These Books With Our Teen Printables!
We regularly create resources that complement our Sessions Books and then share these resources with the Teach Piano Today community and our Facebook Group for teachers with teen students! You can join our Teen Piano Music Facebook Group here.
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