Piano Pedagogy Playlist

Luke Bartolomeo
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It's a great time to be a piano teacher! So many resources on the internet... and so much new music being written by contemporary composers for developing students. Join me each Monday when I'll share with you a piece or two from the contemporary repertoire. From beginner level to advanced, from old favorites to new discoveries, you and your students are certain to be inspired by the music featured on the Piano Pedagogy Playlist.

  1. Jun 1

    A Fugue and a Hammock

    For the Season One finale of The Piano Pedagogy Playlist, we’re doubling up on Chris Norton’s A Year in Twelve Keysand exploring both the June and July movements before taking a short summer break. First, we’ll hear Fughetta, a lively contemporary miniature fugue that showcases the composer’s skillful contrapuntal writing and rhythmic energy. Then we’ll move into Dozing on a Hot Summer’s Day, a dream-like meditation built around a repeating ostinato that perfectly captures the feeling of a lazy summer afternoon. Two months. Two very different musical worlds. One final repertoire discovery before the podcast returns in August. Thanks for listening, have a wonderful summer, and I’ll see you again in August! June – Fughetta (from A Year in Twelve Keys) Chris Caine Advanced Digital Download July – Fughetta (from A Year in Twelve Keys) Chris Caine Late Intermediate Digital Download

    14 min

  2. May 25

    Around the World in Six Dances

    This week, we’re taking a musical trip around the world with Wynn-Anne Rossi’s newly released series Dancing With the World. Designed as a four-volume collection spanning multiple levels, the series explores traditional dance styles from a variety of cultures and transforms them into engaging piano repertoire for students. In this episode, I’m focusing on six selections from Volume 2, written for late-elementary and early-intermediate pianists. Along the way, we’ll explore the dances that inspired these pieces and consider why Dancing With the World could become a wonderful framework for a themed recital, summer camp, or studio-wide project. Pack your dancing shoes and your passport! Story of the Khon (from Dancing With The World, vol. 2) Wynn-Anne Rossi Late Elementary Digital Download Printed Edition Bhangra Meets Bollywood (from Dancing With The World, vol. 2) Wynn-Anne Rossi Late Elementary Digital Download Printed Edition Deep Purple Tango (from Dancing With The World, vol. 2) Wynn-Anne Rossi Digital Download Printed Edition Whirling Dervish (from Dancing With The World, vol. 2) Wynn-Anne Rossi Late Elementary Digital Download Printed Edition Wild Hopak (from Dancing With The World, vol. 2) Wynn-Anne Rossi Early Intermediate Digital Download Printed Edition

    15 min

  3. May 18

    Summer Road Trip with Christopher Goldston

    School’s almost out, summer is calling, and this week on The Piano Pedagogy Playlist we’re packing up the car and heading out on a musical road trip. Join me for a journey from Chicago through the Great Smoky Mountains and on to Myrtle Beach as I explore music by Chicago composer Christopher Goldston, along with one special selection connected to the legacy of his mother, Margaret Goldston — one of the most influential voices in late twentieth-century piano pedagogy. Along the way we’ll encounter energetic pop-inspired rhythms, mountain scenery, rolling ocean waves, a dramatic seaside cadenza, and a touching musical collaboration that feels as though the trip wasn’t only geographical, but also across generations. Open Road Christopher Goldston Early Intermediate Digital Download Mountain Waterfall (from The Great Smokies) Christopher Goldston Intermediate Digital Download Seagulls Over Myrtle Beach Margaret Goldston Intermediate Digital Download Wishing Christopher Goldston Intermediate Digital Download

    16 min

  4. May 11

    The Quiet Legacy of Seymour Bernstein

    Last week, the piano world lost the American pianist, composer, teacher, and author Seymour Bernstein at the age of 99. In this special episode of The Piano Pedagogy Playlist, I reflect on Bernstein’s extraordinary life and legacy — not only as a concert artist, but as one of the great master teachers of American piano pedagogy. Although Bernstein enjoyed a successful performing career, he made the remarkable decision at the age of fifty to step away from the concert stage permanently, devoting himself instead to teaching, composing, and writing. He never seemed to view teaching as something lesser than performing. In many ways, he appeared to see it as the deeper artistic calling. I also share some thoughts on Ethan Hawke’s beautiful documentary Seymour: An Introduction, which offers a moving portrait of Bernstein’s artistic philosophy, humanity, and lifelong devotion to music. The second half of the episode features a miniature recital of four pieces from Bernstein’s collection Birds: • The Purple Finch • The Hummingbird • The Vulture • The Nightingale These impressionistic character pieces beautifully showcase Bernstein’s gift for writing imaginative, expressive, and pianistically satisfying music for students. — Remembering a musician who devoted his life not only to piano playing, but to the people learning to play. — The Purple Finch (from Birds vol. 1) Seymour Bernstein Intermediate Printed Edition The Hummingbird (from Birds vol. 1) Seymour Bernstein Intermediate Printed Edition The Vulture (from Birds vol. 1) Seymour Bernstein Intermediate Printed Edition The Nightingale (from Birds vol. 2) Seymour Bernstein Late Intermediate Printed Edition Watch the documentary now, for free! Seymour: an Introduction

    14 min
  5. May in Motion: Graceful Dances at Two Levels

    May 4

    May in Motion: Graceful Dances at Two Levels

    On the first Monday of each month, The Piano Pedagogy Playlist features a piece from Chris Caine’s A Year in Twelve Keys—a collection that explores all twelve key signatures using only the notes within each key. For May, we turn to Dance in May, an expressive and graceful work in 3/4 time that deliberately avoids the feel of a traditional waltz. Instead, the piece invites students to think in longer phrases—shaping a continuous, legato line while navigating octave writing, carefully choreographed hand-offs of the melody, and nuanced pedaling. As a companion piece, I’m playing Pink Tulips from “A Splash of Color” by Dennis Alexander. Though significantly simpler from a technical standpoint, it does share a similar sense of motion. Subtle surprises in harmony and phrase length give the piece a sense of expansion and musical curiosity. Together, these two works offer a thoughtful look at how we can help students develop a sense of flow and expressive timing across different stages of study. Dance in May (from, A Year in Twelve Keys) Chris Caine Late Intermediate Digital Download Pink Tulips (from, A Splash of Color) Dennis Alexander Early Intermediate Printed Edition

    13 min

  6. Apr 27

    For The Gamer Who Thinks They Don’t Like Piano

    Today’s episode is for a very specific student. The one who’s deeply immersed in video games and gaming culture… who loves music—but doesn’t think they love piano. Maybe they’ve even decided they’re a little too cool for it. This week I’m sharing music that can change that perception. Featuring selections from Let’s Quest, Volume 2 by Chrissy Ricker, these original piano pieces capture the sound world of video games. Even though the music is new, it feels familiar—often leading students to that moment of recognition: “Oh… this feels like my music.” In the episode, I share a recent teaching moment where that exact shift happened—and how repertoire like this can completely change a student’s outlook on their piano studies. Mission Alpha (from Let’s Quest, Vol. 2) Chrissy Ricker Early Intermediate Digital Download Printed Edition Only in Dreams (from Let’s Quest, Vol. 2) Chrissy Ricker Early Intermediate Digital Download Printed Edition Stealth Mode (from Let’s Quest, Vol. 2) Chrissy Ricker Early Intermediate Digital Download Printed Edition Awakening (from Let’s Quest, Vol. 2) Chrissy Ricker Early Intermediate Digital Download Printed Edition

    17 min

  7. Apr 20

    Before Debussy: Music by Marina Alcolea

    Students often fall in love with pieces like Clair de lune long before they have the technique to play them well. And as teachers, that puts us in a tricky spot. We don’t want to dampen that enthusiasm—but we also know those pieces are, at the moment, out of reach. And handing them a simplified version rarely captures what drew them in to begin with. In this episode, I explore a collection that offers a better solution. Marina Alcolea’s "Piano au bord de l’eau"" introduces students to the sound world of French Impressionism through music that is approachable, pattern-based, and genuinely musical—without feeling like a watered-down version of Debussy. If you’re looking for repertoire that meets students where they are—while still honoring the music they’re drawn to—this is a collection worth exploring. Les vagues berceuses (from Piano au bord de l’eau) Marina Alcolea Elementary Digital Download Le chant de l’eau (from Piano au bord de l’eau) Marina Alcolea Elementary Digital Download Lac miroir (from Piano au bord de l’eau) Marina Alcolea Elementary Digital Download Gare sous la pluie (from Piano au bord de l’eau) Marina Alcolea Late Elementary Digital Download Néréides (from Piano au bord de l’eau) Marina Alcolea Late Intermediate Digital Download

    16 min

  8. Apr 13

    Elissa Milne’s Very Easy Little Peppers: Teaching Beyond the Method Book

    Method books give us structure and sequence, but they don’t always provide enough reinforcement—or enough variety—to keep students fully engaged. That’s where supplemental repertoire can make a meaningful difference. In this episode, we explore Very Easy Little Peppers by Elissa Milne—a collection of short, engaging pieces designed for early elementary piano students. These pieces offer teachers the opportunity to: reinforce key concepts introduce musical challenges in a manageable way highlight each student’s unique strengths and bring fresh, appealing repertoire into early lessons We’ll look at seven selections from the collection, grouped by how they can function in your teaching: articulation-focused studies that build control and independence simple pieces with a modern, engaging sound and slightly more advanced works that can serve as recital-ready showpieces Whether you’re looking to support a struggling student, challenge a quick learner, or simply add variety to your teaching, this collection offers practical and musical solutions. Salt and Pepper (from Very Easy Little Peppers) Salt and Pepper Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Smooth and Crunchy (from Very Easy Little Peppers) Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Safari (from, Very Easy Little Peppers) Late Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Flâneur (from, Very Easy Little Peppers) Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Chase (from, Very Easy Little Peppers) Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Storm in a Teacup (from, Very Easy Little Peppers) Late Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition Three Legged Race (from, Very Easy Little Peppers) Late Elementary Digital Download single piece or Entire Collection Printed Edition

    15 min
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About

It's a great time to be a piano teacher! So many resources on the internet... and so much new music being written by contemporary composers for developing students. Join me each Monday when I'll share with you a piece or two from the contemporary repertoire. From beginner level to advanced, from old favorites to new discoveries, you and your students are certain to be inspired by the music featured on the Piano Pedagogy Playlist.

Information

  • Creator
    Luke Bartolomeo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Piano Pedagogy Playlist
  • Show Website
    Piano Pedagogy Playlist