Snapchats Duets & Trios is a series of four books for those students who enjoy ensemble playing, that is, playing with either one or two other pianists; piano duets are for four hands whereas trios are for six.
Written with enjoyment and fun in mind, Snapchats is a progressive or graded series. The beginners book, Snapchats Duets & Trios for beginners, contains 25 pieces for almost the complete beginner, with most of the duets and trios being for separate hands – either the right or left – perfect for sight-reading and note learning. Book 1, which contains 19 duets and 4 trios, takes students from late beginner level to around Grade 2 – 3 of the ABRSM syllabus standards; the final four pieces in Snapchats are trios. Book 2, More Snapchats Duets & Trios, is approximately Grade 2–4 level with 10 duets and 2 trios, and Book 3, also entitled More Snapchats Duets & Trios, is around Grade 4–6 level, and consists of 6 duets and 2 trios. As might be expected, the pieces gradually increase in difficulty throughout the series, and they become longer and more involved.
I’ve frequently used Book 1, published in 2019, as a part of my tours, courses, and classes for several years, both in the UK and abroad, and they are popular with students and, perhaps rather surprisingly, also with teachers who enjoy playing them with their students and other teachers. Tuneful, short—lasting not longer than 12 bars—and easy to read and play, they provide excellent material for an afternoon’s sight-reading class or any festival, concert, or piano event. Book 2 and 3 (published just last November) contain slightly longer pieces, but they still fall comfortably under the hands, are tuneful, and occasionally jazzy in style: the final two pieces in Book 2 and 3 are both trios.
Whilst I’ve recorded a few duets in each book with one of my students, there are many we had to leave out, mostly due to time constraints and the fact that we didn’t have another pair of hands! But I’m delighted that renowned composer Christopher Norton has recorded every piece in each book, playing all the parts himself. Snapchats are published by 80 Days Publishing, which is owned by Christopher and Andrew Jones, and it’s becoming a popular music publishing company, publishing works by a variety of composers who write for numerous different instruments and instrumental combinations.
Snapchats Duets & Trios for Beginners
Snapchats Duets & Trios Book 1
More Snapchats Duets & Trios Book 2
More Snapchats Duets & Trios Book 3
Find out more about Christopher, here.
