Popular Styles
... is an exam program for piano students. It was designed as an alternative to our Piano and Theory exam programs, but can also be used to supplement them. Musical concepts are introduced using the language and symbols of jazz, folk, blues, rock, R&B, and pop. In this program, 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.
Program Structure
The MMTA Popular Styles program consists of four levels. Most students would be ready for Level 1 after completing levels 1 and 2 of a piano method or the MMTA Piano Exam program. Each level consists of an exam workbook which the teacher and the student can go through together, and then the student can take the exam for that level.
Exam workbooks for students are available for purchase via the links below. MMTA members can log in and view more information under Materials/Popular Styles Exams.