I’m taking a short, two-week holiday break from the regular podcast format. But I wanted to share with you one lovely Christmas piece by the late Linda Martinez. It’s a thoroughly modern take on The First Noel from her collection “Snowy Days of Christmas”. Thanks for accompanying me on the first twenty episodes of this journey. I’ll look forward to discovering new music with you in the new year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! – Luke The First Noel, by Linda Martinez Digital Download Printed Copy

The Year’s Cadence closes out the regular podcast episodes of 2025 with a moment of musical reflection and quiet anticipation. Framed by the musical idea of a cadence—a place of repose that also hints at what comes next—this episode explores four piano pieces by different composers that mirror the emotional arc of the year’s end. This episode is both a practical repertoire guide and a moment of gratitude—for the steady, patient work teachers do each week and the lasting impact it has on young musicians as they step into a new year. Reflections, by Dennis Alexander Digital Download Remembrance, by Maria Mifsud Digital Download Reminiscence, by Edwin McLean Printed Copy A New Beginning, by Kevin Costley Digital Download

Three pieces this week from the collection Aspects of Blue by Alan Bullard, all at an intermediate level. Blue Sky Digital Download Stately Blue Digital Download Blue River Digital Download This week, we dive into Alan Bullard’s Aspects of Blue—a collection that takes the familiar 12-bar blues chord progression and reimagines it in completely unexpected ways. These aren’t blues pieces, but character pieces that use the form as a creative framework. You’ll hear Blue Sky, Stately Blue, and Blue River: three intermediate-level works that explore calm lyricism, Baroque-inspired elegance, and flowing rhythmic interplay. This ain't the blues, but it is wonderfully imaginative.

Today’s episode highlights four pieces from Winter Dreams, Hans Günter Heumann’s expressive winter collection for late-elementary and early-intermediate pianists. From snowboarding adventures to quiet winter reveries, these works capture the magic and stillness of the season. All pieces are from the collection Winter Dreams by Hans Günter Heumann. Suitable for late-elementary to early-intermediate students. Snowboarding Digital Download Miracles Just Happen Digital Download The Igloo Digital Download Winter Dreams Digital Download

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the US, and I’m celebrating with a trio of original, winter-themed piano pieces that set the seasonal mood. We have Melody Bober’s exhuberent Sleighride Fantasy, Ice Dance by Irish composer Seana Davey, and an accessbile gem of a piece for Ludovico Einaudi fans, Snow Prelude #3. Sleighride Fantasy, by Melody Bober Digital Download Ice Dance, by Seana Davey Digital Download Snow Prelude #3 in C Major, by Ludovico Einaudi Digital Download

This week on The Piano Pedagogy Playlist, we follow the shimmering path of the aurora across four imaginative works—all sharing the same title: “Northern Lights.” Inspired by last week’s unusually widespread auroral displays across North America, we explore how four different composers translate this natural wonder into sound, each through their own musical lens. Four pieces with the same title and the same inspiration— Northern Lights. Northern Lights by Rick Robertson Digital Download Northern Lights by Karen Tanaka Printed Copy Northern Lights by Kevin Olson Digital Download Printed Copy Northern Lights by Wynn-Anne Rossi Digital Download

All of this week’s featured pieces are from the six-volume series, “Grand One Hand Solos for Piano”, by Melody Bober.Lazy Day, for left hand alone – Digital Download (from book 2, Digital Download Printed Copy)Falling Snow, for right hand alone – Digital Download (from book 3, Digital Download Printed Copy)Autumn Wind, for left hand alone – Digital Download (from book 4, Digital Download Printed Copy)Chaconne in e minor, for right hand alone – Digital Download (from book 5, Digital Download Printed Copy)When an injury leaves one hand out of commission, the music doesn’t have to stop. This week, I’m featuring pieces from Melody Bober’s Grand One-Hand Solos for Piano series— music written specifically for a single hand that keep students progressing even through recovery. (00:00:00) Intro & Welcome (00:03:04) Lazy Day (00:05:33) Falling Snow (00:08:15) Autumn Wind (00:10:30) Chaconne in e minor (00:13:58) Summary & Farewell

Join me as I dive into Little Peppers — a lively and imaginative collection by Australian composer Elissa Milne. I'm playing six short pieces from the collection that may be written for elementary students, but are full of rhythmic sophistication, contrasting moods, and vivid character. From jazzy mischief in Shenanigans to the emotional contrasts of Lost and Found, and finally the drive of Deadline leading to the calm of Twilight, each piece shows how much expressive storytelling can fit into a single page of music. Little Peppers - Digital Download Hard Copy Shenanigans - Digital Download Convertible - Digital Download Lost - Digital Download Found - Digital Download Deadline - Digital Download Twilight - Digital Download

The Navajo composer Connor Chee and his Three Navajo Preludes are the subject of this week's episode. Blending traditional Diné (Navajo) melodies with the expressive language of the Western piano, Chee’s music bridges cultures and traditions — transforming ancient chants into thoughtful, modern piano works. We'll reflect on how Chee’s use of the perfect fourth, his chant-like phrasing, and his spiritual symbolism connect listeners to the natural world — between earth and sky. "Three Navajo Preludes" - ⬇️ Digital Download

Featuring solos for late elementary level students (including adults!) from the collection, "Daily Comforts, volume 1" by Wynn-Anne Rossi. Fresh Falling Leaves - Digital Download or Printed Copy Long, Slow Walk - Digital Download or Printed Copy Mystery Book - Digital Download or Printed Copy Chicken Noodle Soup - Digital Download or Printed Copy

Featuring duets for beginning level students and their teacher or another advanced student. From the collection, “Melodic Explorations 1“, by Giulio Pietropaolo. Don’t Give Up – Digital Download Growing Up – Digital Download Sad Story – Digital Download Waiting For It – Digital Download This week is all about beginners. I’m featuring student/teacher duets written […]

This week, we celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival by exploring the music of An-Lun Huang and his groundbreaking collection A Chinese Festival. Four evocative pieces weave together East and West, tradition and innovation, all under the soft glow of the harvest moon. Featuring selections from the collection A Chinese Festival, by An-Lun Huang. Pastures - Digital Download An Old Castle - Digital Download Mountain - Digital Download Streams of Yang River - Digital Download

Cats take center stage this week as I play three feline focused pieces for late-elementary through intermediate level piano students. The composers are Lisa Donovan Lukas, Chrissy Ricker, and Scaredy Cat. Mischief, swing, and spooky fun— with a little improv mixed in as well. Perfect repertoire picks for October. Black Cat Capers, by Lisa Donovan Lukas - Digital Download Cool Cat Boogie, by Chrissy Ricker Digital Download Scaredy Cat, by Jennifer Eklund (solo piano version) Digital Download

Spiders may make me squirm, but they sure spin some great music. In this week’s episode, I swat my fears aside to share four creepy-crawly piano pieces by Chris Goldston, Jocelyn Kotchie, and Stacy Fahrion. From tarantellas to tangly webs, these works are spooky, clever, and perfect for your students to sink their fangs into this fall. The Spider's Masquerade, Christopher Goldston - Digital Download Spiderweb Salsa, Jocelyn Kotchie - Digital Download Tomb Spiders, Jocelyn Kotchie - Digital Download Long Legged Spinners, Stacy Fahrion - Digital Download

Fall is in the air, and this week’s episode is all about piano music that captures the colors and moods of the season. I’m featuring three pieces by Canadian composer Rebekah Maxner, whose music is a favorite among piano students and teachers alike. You’ll hear the calm reflection of “Autumn Afternoon,” the simple beauty of “Orange Sunset,” and the jazzy mischief of “Midnight Mind Game.” It’s a short, cozy celebration of autumn through the piano. Autumn Afternoon by Rebekah Maxner Orange Sunset by Rebekah Maxner Midnight Mind Game by Rebekah Maxner

This week on the Piano Pedagogy Playlist, I dive into Cool Beans by English composer Ben Crosland — a fresh, pop-inspired collection of 12 graded pieces for early to late intermediate pianists. After years of hearing good things about this collection, I finally bought the digital download of Book One, sat down at the piano, and couldn’t stop playing — I immediately went through the whole book twice! Cool Beans, Volume 1 - by Ben Crosland

The "Celebration Series" of repertoire books published by the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto have been a longtime favorite source of mine for discovering new pieces by living composers. Updated every seven years, I always find fresh pieces that eventually become old favorites. This week, I highlight three options for intermediate students from the level four, five, and six books- Peter Rudzik’s whimsical Happy Grasshopper, Nkeiru Okoye’s beautifully atmospheric Dusk, and the energetic Running for the Bus by Alexina Louie. Truly Astounding Animals, by Paul Rudzik African Sketches, by Nkeiru Okoye Small Beautiful Things: For Piano, by Alexina Louie Celebration Series (Sixth Edition) Repertoire 4 Celebration Series (Sixth Edition) Repertoire 5 Celebration Series (Sixth Edition) Repertoire 6 This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep our podcast alive. Thank you!

This three-movement work by the prolific Glenda Austin exhibits all of the qualities that make her music so adored and valued- lyricism, expression, excitement, and with a touch of jazz. The Jazz Suite #1 could be a long-term project for an intermediate student, or split up the various movements between students in your studio and have them perform it tag-team style on the next recital. Sheet Music, digital download here! Find Ms. Austin on Facebook

Students are slowly trickling back into their schools and back into our studios! In an ideal world, our pupils would have all diligently kept up with their piano studies through the summer, but we know that's not always the case. This week I’m sharing four pieces by Australian composer Daniel McFarlane—fun, impressive-sounding works that are easy to learn and perfect for motivating students who need a quick win at the piano. Easing back into things is a great way to build confidence and set the tone for a fun and productive year. Eternal Light - Digital Download Ever Distant - Digital Download Funk - Digital Download Loneliness - Digital Download

This week we explore the fine art of making your students sweat (musically speaking). I’ll play two pieces that capture the fidgety, feelings of uncertainty that many of our students (and ourselves) experience heading into a new school year. First, the Anxiety Toccata by Scott Price, which doesn't let up from the first note until the double bar. Then I take a spirited dash through Friedrich Burgmüller’s Inquiétude, which offers just enough breathing room to avoid passing out. Along the way, I'll give my thoughts on why the hit pop song “Anxiety” didn’t make today’s playlist (spoiler: I dig the song! Just not such a great piano solo). But you might have some students who want to play it this fall, so I include links to the better arrangements out there. Grab your metronome, steady your nerves, and join me for some controlled musical panic! Anxiety Toccata, Scott Price More info... Kindle e-book Inquiétude, Friedrich Burgmüller - Free download