I’ve noticed of late how helpful it’s been to play two piano classical duets with my intermediate students. These duets seem to solve so many issues from improper tempo changes, ritardando absences, listening issues, rhythm issues, and more. I absolutely love the Favorite Classics Accompaniment Book 1 published by Alfred for my students in the early intermediate to intermediate level.
This book includes duets for the popular Solfeggio/Bach, Clowns/Kabalevsky, Arabesque/Burgmuller, Musette in D/Bach, etc. Several of my students and I have been playing through these duets (of course, they are originally solo pieces with added duets) this last year and having such a wonderful time. (The one caveat that I must say is that the duet in this book for the Clementi Sonatina is not nearly as good as the one by Timm which I address in the next paragraph).
My other favorite two piano duet is the one that makes listening to the Clementi Sonatina in C, Op. 36, No. 1 delightful and refreshing. Though we all know this is a great piece, we probably also hear it at least a few times every week amongst our students. The two piano duet by Henry C. Timm really helps me enjoy hearing the student while having fun playing at the same time. So much can be taught in this sonatina, but its familiarity can certainly tempt us to hurry through it. The two piano duet makes it enjoyable by inviting the teacher to make music with the student yielding a very enjoyable experience!  Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find it from anyone other than independent sellers on the web. It’s copyright 1891 by G. Schirmer, so I’m hoping to find it on imspl at some point.
Of course, all of the duet parts for these pieces were written by other composers well after the original piece.
What other two piano duets are your favorites? I’d love to add to my collection.
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image: Neon Hallway
All of my students are still beginners, but I absolutely agree that teacher/student duets are a great addition to the lesson time! Not only does it help them keep a steady rhythm (it’s like a magical fix!), but they enjoy it immensely, and so do I! I can’t wait till they are at intermediate stages and I can play Classical duets with them, too.
I totally agree about the Timm 2nd piano parts to the Clementi Sonatinas. They make them into a concerto!
I found Vol. 2 of the 2nd piano parts on Sheetmusicplus.com. published by Schirmer. It has Sonatinas 3, 5, & 6. I love pulling out the Favorite Classics (there are about 4 volumes of them) after audition times to keep those pieces fresh for an end of year recital. But they’re not nearly as inspired as the Clementi/Timm arrangements.
Every time Alfred comes out with another volume of the duets, I buy it. (I think there are 6 now.) I have created a list, alphabetical by original composer with the volume and page to find the duet part. So whenever a student is playing a “standard” classic and is about finished, I look at my list to see if there is a teacher duet in one of the volumes that I can play with them. I agree – it motivates the students to really polish a piece and be ready to play with continuity. Students who are relying too much on their ear, quickly discover that they don’t know the piece as well as they thought!
I like the duets written by Barbara Meixner, and my students love them. There are two sets of books–one set has arrangements for two pianos, and one has duets for one piano. They were written to go with the Suzuki repertoire, but I’m sure non-Suzuki teachers would find pieces they are familiar with. Volume 1 could easily be used with beginners; it includes songs like Mary Had a Little Lamb, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, etc.
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Suzuki-Piano-Ensemble-Music-for-Piano-Duo-Volumes-3-4/1534097
Catherine McMichael has also written duet parts for pieces in the first four books of the Suzuki repertoire. Hers are more complex than the Meixner ones; sometimes they are prettier, but sometimes also a little “busy” which can make it more difficult for students to play along with.
http://www.young-musicians.com/companion-pieces-to-suzuki-piano-volume-4-two-pianos-mcmichael.html#.UWT7Sr9Gjwx
There’s nothing better than Diller Quaille, either the second piano parts or the duets. Also, I have 2 different second parts to the 2-part inventions. They are both long out of prints but worth looking for.