Look Carefully!
What "Levels" are Available in Popular Music?
The publishers have devised their own terminology when referring to various levels of popular music. This explanation will assist you when shopping for music at an appropriate level for a particular student.
All books/sheets will have these terms on the front or back covers. Make sure to look carefully, the covers may look exactly alike with the exception of small print on the corner.
easy piano >
5 Finger
This is the easiest level for popular piano music. Simple notes, both hands stay in "five finger" position for the entire piece. Simple rhythms, whole, half, quarter and eighths. Many of these books will also have an optional teacher duet part.
Method Levels: Pre-level1
Big Note
Simplified pieces using 2, (occasionally 3) notes per hand. Written in simple keys with little or no accidentals. Left hand is more two note harmony than triads. Rhythm is a bit more complicated than 5 Finger - dotted quarters, eighths, simple ties.
Method Levels: 2-3
Easy Piano
Close to the original arrangements but transposed to easier keys and complex syncopation is smoothed out. Usually no more than 3 sharps/flats. Left hand becomes more active, triads are much more prevalent. Make sure to sight-read a few of the pieces first, the term "easy" can sometimes be misleading when dealing with these arrangements.
Method Levels: 3-4
PVG
(Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
This is the most common format for today's popular piano music. Written for the intermediate, to late intermediate musician. These pieces are usually transcribed in the original key. PVG arrangements allow a pianist to perform a piece as a "solo" instrument and are fairly accurate replications. However, if the original piece was performed by a band featuring guitar as the lead instrument, these arrangements may fall short.
Piano Solo
These pieces are solo arrangements edited by a select group in the industry and written for the intermediate to advanced musician.
Piano solo arrangements may include challenging arpeggios, complex rhythm patterns, modulations and extended chord voicing.
Currently, the number of songs available in this format are very limited. The best selection can be found among "Standards" and "Movie Themes".
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