Editors' Choice
Piano Town is a new elementary piano method that uses a multi-key approach with a special focus on intervallic reading. Musical concepts are tied into the art and lyrics found throughout the method, encouraging imagination and helping students explore the expressive nature of music. Piano Town introduces students to the piano with pre-staff notation on black key groups and then white keys, at the Primer level. Following that, reading on the staff beings in middle C position. C Major and G Major positions and chords are also taught at the Primer level, along with new concepts such as basic note lengths, the grand staff, clefs, slurs, ties, staccatos, and more. New intervals (2nds through 5ths) are introduced individually. The Piano Town method is most effective when the Lesson, Theory, Technique and Performance books are used in conjunction, thus providing support and review of the new concepts presented. The classics are featured throughout the series as arrangements at first. Then original classics are featured almost exclusively beginning at Level 3. Also included are favorite folk tunes and original music by the authors.

Editors' Choice
Level 3 progresses from the early intermediate to intermediate levels. Original classical pieces are plentiful at this level, including works by J. C. Bach, Leopold Mozart, Georg Philipp Telemann, Ludwig Schytte and many more. New keys continue to be gradually introduced, in cumulative order of sharps and flats. The keys of A, D, E and G Minor, and Bb Major are presented at this level. More advanced concepts include binary and ternary form, major and perfect intervals, two-part playing, grace notes and more. As with all pieces and theory assignments in the method, "call-outs" are found throughout. "Call-outs" introduce all new concepts by providing a pointer line pairing each new term with its definition, and new each symbol with its explanation.

Editors' Choice
The last level of Piano Town, Level 4, takes the student into the intermediate level with lots of original classics by a variety of composers. New keys and concepts continue to be introduced including Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and B Major, their scales in one and two octaves and chords; 2/2 and 3/8 time signatures; diminished and augmented triads; sixteenth notes and rests; dotted eighth notes; syncopation; order of flats and sharps; and the Circle of Fifths. Upon completion of the method, students are ready to tackle classical repertoire at the intermediate level. Check out the Piano Repertoire series, starting with Level 3, edited by one of Piano Town's authors, Keith Snell.

Editors' Choice
Level 1 begins with a nine-page review of the Primer level. Students progress from the late elementary to early intermediate levels in Level 1. New keys and hand positions include F and G Major. Accidentals are used in pieces to introduce new keys, and then key signatures are used. Other new concepts including tonic and dominant seventh chords, crescendo and diminuendo, eighth notes and rests, dotted quarter notes, accents and more. Transposition is introduced at this level and is emphasized throughout the following levels. Level 1 ends with an arrangement of Alouette in G Major, employing the G Major triad, D7 chord (two notes only), and hands in two positions.

Editors' Choice
As with all levels in the series, questions are provided before each piece, offering thoughtful preparation before the first attempt and setting the stage for a review or introduction of new concepts. Level 2 stays solidly at the early intermediate level and students are introduced to new keys (D, A, and E Major); scales in one octave; and I, IV, and V chords. Intervals of a 6th and 7th are introduced as are minor five-finger patterns and chords (C, F, and G), 6/8 time and more. Folk tunes and traditional tunes are offered in abundance in both the Lesson and Performance books, along with classics and original pieces by the authors.