The Metzger School of Music

04/27/2026

Free Elementary Piece! I recently began to see the spring butterflies visiting our pollinator garden, and it reminded me of this lovely little piece:

"Little Butterfly" is a delightful way for elementary students to develop finger independence and wrist techniques such as float-offs and rotation. It is also a perfect interval study for 2nds, 3rds, and 4ths. In addition, students will encounter various rhythms, including the whole note, dotted half note, half note, half rest, quarter note, quarter rest, and several eighth note combinations. Suggested fi*****ng, dynamics, pedal marks, and lyrics are included in the score.

This free download is licensed for studio use. Teachers are authorized to make copies for their students. Click the link below to preview, listen to, and download the free digital sheet music.

This lovely little piece is a delightful way for elementary students to develop finger independence and wrist techniques such as float-offs and rotation. It is also a perfect interval study for 2nds, 3rds, and 4ths as well as various rhythms.

04/15/2026

Fantastic piece for older kids, teens, and adults! "Rondo Fantasy" This exciting piece is set in rondo form (A-B-A-C-A-Coda). The mysterious A section alternates with an imitative B section and an exciting and technique-oriented C section. It is a fun way for intermediate students to explore the key of D minor as well as scales, arpeggios, and primary chord inversions.

This piece is available as a single or studio license. You can find the link to the sheet music in the video description or in the post comments.

This fantastical new piece is set in rondo form (A-B-A-C-A-Coda). The mysterious A section alternates with an imitative B section and an exciting and techniq...

03/31/2026

"Ocean Waves" This beautiful etude provides intermediate students with the opportunity to practice pentatonic runs on the black keys. It is also a great study of 5/4 time.

In the A section, the right hand evokes images of waves rising, falling, and crashing on the shore, while the left hand provides a supportive ostinato. The B section presents a calmer rolling motion that one might experience while sailing.

The meter, scale, ostinato, chord progressions, sections, and form are all based on the number five. Suggested fi*****ng, dynamics, and pedal marks are provided in the score.​

This piece is available as a single or studio license. You can find the link to the sheet music in the video description or in the comments below.

This beautiful etude provides students with the opportunity to practice pentatonic runs on the black keys. It is also a great study of 5/4 time. In the A sec...

03/23/2026

New Blues Etude! "Mixed Up Blues" features the Mixo-blues scale, which is a popular 9-note hybrid scale. This scale is often explained as the Mixolydian scale plus the minor blues scale or the major blues scale plus the minor blues scale. The Mixo-blues scale provides more note choices than the standard blues scales, which leads to more creative improvisations.

This piece is available as a single or studio license. You can find the link to the sheet music in the video description or in the comments below.

"Mixed Up Blues" features the Mixo-blues scale, which is a popular 9-note hybrid scale. This scale is often explained as the Mixolydian scale plus the minor ...

03/19/2026

Spring Freebie! This simplified arrangement of Vivaldi's famous melody is a fun way for students to practice the primary chords (I, IV, V, V7) in the key of C Major.

This free download is licensed for single or studio use. Teachers are authorized to make copies for their students. The link to the free sheet music can be found in the comments or in the video description.

This simplified arrangement of Vivaldi's famous melody is a fun way for students to practice the primary chords (I, IV, V, V7) in the key of C Major. For the...

03/16/2026

Fun Piece for Spring! "Spring Is in the Air" This cheerful waltz in F major is a great preliminary piece for intermediate students before they begin the easier Chopin waltzes. Suggested fi*****ng, dynamics, pedal, and performance notes are included in the score.

This piece is available as a single or studio license. You can find the link to the sheet music in the video description or in the comments below.

This cheerful waltz in F major is a great preliminary piece for intermediate students before they begin the easier Chopin waltzes. Suggested fi*****ng, dynam...

03/13/2026

Fun New Blues Piece! "The Charleston Blues" This lively blues etude explores the Dorian blues scale and the Charleston rhythm. The Dorian blues scale is a great alternative to the standard minor blues scale, and the Charleston rhythm is a terrific chord-comping device. Suggested fi*****ng and articulation are also included in the score.

This piece is available as a single or studio license. The link to the sheet music can be found in the comments or in the video description.

This lively blues etude explores the Dorian blues scale and the Charleston rhythm. The Dorian blues scale is a great alternative to the standard minor blues ...

03/10/2026

Free Blues Resource! This concise supplement is a great introduction to blues scale theory. It presents and explains the six basic scales used in blues music as well as four more advanced scales. Suggested fi*****ngs and scale construction formulas are also provided in the score. This free resource can be used alone or as a supplement to Elevator Blues and other blues collections by Jared Metzger Abel.

This concise supplement is a great introduction to blues scale theory. It presents and explains the six basic scales used in blues music as well as four more advanced scales. Suggested fi*****ngs and scale construction formulas are also provided in the score.

02/02/2026

Fun Pieces for Blues Pedagogy! Elevator Blues (New Edition) This set of four variations is a delightful introduction to blues piano. The catchy melodies introduce various blues rhythms and scales, while the lyrics playfully describe the trials and tribulations of riding on the elevator.

The new edition includes first and second endings for all four variations, which makes each one an optional standalone piece. I also made some cool changes to the music and lyrics that make this edition even more fun than the original.

The sheet music also includes a preparation sheet that presents the scales and grooves used in the variations. Suggested fi*****ng is also included in the score.

Elevator Blues is available as a single or studio license at a great price. You can find the link to the digital sheet music in the comments or in the video description.

Early Intermediate Level

This set of four variations is a delightful introduction to blues piano. The catchy melodies introduce various blues rhythms and scales, while the lyrics pla...

01/26/2026

"A Leap of Faith" This lyrical solo is a hybrid of classical and contemporary styles. The A section begins with broken triads and a simple, syncopated motif. The B section introduces a second motif, and then the two ideas are combined in the final A section. Technically, the left hand offers an opportunity to practice the two fi*****ngs often used for broken triads, while the right hand encourages wrist rotation.

This piece is available as a single or studio license. You can preview, listen to, and download the digital sheet music by clicking on the link below.

Early Intermediate Level

This lyrical solo is a hybrid of classical and contemporary styles. The A section begins with broken triads and a simple, syncopated motif. The B section introduces a second motif, and then the two ideas are combined in the final A section.

01/13/2026

I have seen a lot of posts about students not being prepared for recitals. Here is a strategy that has worked for me over the years. I hope it is helpful!l

My students keep a "playlist" of five pieces that we have studied and they know well. When they learn a new piece, we swap it with the oldest piece on the list. So, the list is always evolving to reflect their current level. We also try to fill it with pieces that the student really likes, so some pieces don't make the list.

Students are encouraged to play a different piece from their playlist at the end of each practice. This helps them to maintain these pieces. It's also nice to end a practice session with something you know (a success).

At the end of lessons, I will often ask them to play something from their playlist. We sometimes roll a die to see which piece (numbered 1-5) they will play. If they roll a six, they get to pick any piece from the list. They seem to enjoy this. It's fun to watch them try to roll that six!

As the recital (or studio class) approaches, they simply select a piece from their playlist. I sometimes weigh in, but it's mainly their decision. Then, we polish it up a bit and are ready to go. This really seems to alleviate stress about preparing for the recital, for me and the students.