Today I would like to showcase one of my Oclef students as we are practicing on “Sword Dance” from the Piano Adventures Method Book 2A. This piece introduces important musical concepts such as allegro tempo, fermata, and expressive dynamics including crescendo and diminuendo. This blog post also highlights the value of listening a full music score to enhance students' ear training, sense of mood, and overall musicality.

Sword Dance from the Piano Adventures Method Book 2A is energetic composition is perfect for introducing young pianists to the brisk pace of allegro tempo, the pause and drama of a fermata, and expressive dynamic shaping through crescendo and diminuendo. All of our students love this piece and bring their creativity playing it. 

One of the techniques I love to incorporate in lessons is playing the full music score for my students. Not only does this give them a strong reference for tempo and mood, but it also helps develop their ear for musical expression—an essential skill for any well-rounded musician. Plus, let’s be honest—it makes the lesson way more fun and inspiring!

Watch how we explore the storytelling side of the music while reinforcing essential technique and theory concepts. This lesson is a perfect example of how we blend structure with creativity to help students grow into expressive, confident pianists.

🎥 Watch the sneak peek to our lesson here: