It’s harvest season. Farmers are bringing in their oats and their beans and their barley.
So naturally, we were inspired to compose… a pop piano piece for teens?
Okay, maybe the connection isn’t obvious! But if you’re a fan of our Remix book series, then you know where this is going.
Because we love turning traditional children’s tunes into “Top 40” pop songs.
If it’s not already clear, today we’re sharing an intermediate level 2 piano solo based on the traditional folk song “Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow.”
It is a surprisingly motivating way to share some seasonal music with your older students.
Think of this Intermediate Level 2 solo as a pop piano hoedown for the piano. It’s full of bounce, energy, and a few fun surprises along the way. Students get lots of practice feeling the natural swing of 6/8 time while staying on their toes as the tempo changes several times throughout the piece. The music also develops hand balance, quick and nimble finger work, accented staccatos, and plenty of dynamic contrast.
It’s a great choice for students who are ready for something lively, cheerful, and very satisfying to play.
Teaching Guide:
- Feel the 6/8 pulse first. Before playing, have students clap or tap the rhythm while feeling two large beats per measure: ONE-two-three, FOUR-five-six. This will help the piece feel like a lively piano hoedown instead of six separate little beats.
- Keep the melody on top. Encourage students to listen for the melodic line and keep the accompaniment lighter underneath it. This is a great piece for developing hand balance.
- Practice tempo changes separately. The shifts in tempo are part of what makes the piece exciting. Rehearse the measures before and after each change so students learn to move naturally from one tempo to another without rushing or hesitating.
- Build speed gradually. For the quicker finger passages, start well under tempo and increase the metronome a few clicks at a time. Aim for evenness and relaxation before adding speed.
- Make the accents really speak. The accented and accented staccato notes should feel punchy and energetic without becoming harsh. Have students experiment with a quick, confident release rather than simply playing them louder.
- Shape the longer phrases. Encourage students to think beyond individual measures. Have them identify where each phrase is heading, then use subtle dynamic shaping to make the melody feel like it’s going somewhere.
- Protect the bounce. As the piece gets faster, students may start to play too heavily. Remind them to stay loose in the wrist and keep the articulation buoyant so the 6/8 rhythm retains its playful character.
- Polish the transitions. Once each section is secure, spend extra time connecting them. Have students begin a few measures before every tempo or character change and continue a few measures beyond it. These transition spots are what will make the final performance feel polished and confident.
Before You Download Our Intermediate Pop Piano Piece
If your teens light up when a piece gives them room to breathe, shape, and really sink into the music, you know how powerful that spark can be. When older students find something that feels honest and expressive under their hands, practice stops being a chore and starts becoming a place they want to return to.
That’s exactly why we created WunderKeys Intermediate Pop Studies for Piano. Instead of the eye-glazed “do I have to?” approach to scales and chords, teens build essential skills inside music that feels modern, expressive, and—yes—addictively playable.
Think: groove instead of grind. Progress without pushback. Technical growth disguised as music they won’t want to stop playing. If September Fields gets your students in that zone… be sure to click on a cover below to explore level 1 and level 2 in our intermediate teen piano series.
Download September Fields
You can click here or on the first button below to download September Fields from the Members Only Printables section of the Growing With WunderKeys Toolkit.
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