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Piano Band arrangement are created for use in Group Piano classes with players of multiple skill levels.  Songs are presented at five levels which can be played together as an ensemble for a full sound.  Use Pt. A--just the melody played as single note--the teach the song.  Parts are printed like a conductor's scores so players can shift down to choose from progressively advancing levels of difficulty. ​Parts begin to be present in lead sheet type format with chord names above the Treble clef; more difficult levels will also show roman numeral designations for each chord.
Cora plays "Something Just Like This"
​by Coldplay & the Chainsmokers 
Pop songs for students early in their piano journey.  Great for teen and adult students whose fingers have 2-3 years experience and are working to keep up with their vast musical playlist!  Solo and Duet arrangements are self-published via Hal Leonard's ArrangeMe program which pays appropriate royalties to the song writers.

​Click here to learn about Jim's Arranging Philosophy. 

Popular Styles Curriculum
Jim co-developed the MMTA (MN Music Teachers Association) Popular Styles Curriculum and Exam program, trained teachers to incorporate it in their lessons, served as exam adjudicator, and curated the repertoire list.    

The curriculum helps students learn to play and recognize melodic and harmonic patterns, using their voices and bodies as well as by playing the piano; listen critically to and analyze popular song forms; play solo arrangements of popular tunes, employing contemporary phrasing and time feel; and arrange, play, and improvise from lead sheets (melody and chords) with recorded or live accompaniment.

"La Femme"
La Femme is a collection of Elementary to Intermediate level arrangements from five composers: Florence Barbour, Melanié Bonis, Hedwige Chretien, Agathe Grøndahl, and Nannie Louise Wright.  

A few pieces were originally written for young students and were merely edited-removing a couple notes for easier playing or adjusting fingerings.  Many are arrangements of beautiful melodies with simplified accompaniments that keep the harmonic flavor of the composer.  An effort was made to use pedagogical concepts presented in standard method books so they can easily be used as supplements.
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The 12 solos and one duet are presented in relative order of difficulty from easiest to most challenging.  Melody in the left hand, melodic entrances on offbeats or as pick-up notes, and diverse meters (including numerous pieces in 3/4 or 6/8), provide a great variety of delightful music.  

"4 Short Organ Pieces for Worship"
Four intermediate-level arrangements for organ based on the hymn tunes:
* Ora Labora
* Afton Water
* Lacquiparle, and
​* He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. 

Other Musings

"Cora's Mash-Up"
A custom mash-up of Cora's favorite songs arranged by Jim.  Performed for an MMTA Bridges event, April 2023.
Jim's SATB arrangement of
​"Welcome to Our World" by Chris Rice
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