Peaceful Piano Solos: Musicals | Piano Sheet Music Review
This post is part of my Quick Takes series - short, focused reviews that highlight key publications for teachers and players.
Introduction
In a busy world, it’s hard to find time and space - the right sort of time and space - to sit down and lose yourself at the piano. But that’s exactly what I found myself doing with Peaceful Piano Solos: Musicals, a collection of 30 piano arrangements in this popular series from Hal Leonard.
Well-known musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, South Pacific, West Side Story and Wicked, sit alongside less well-known shows such as Rent and The Band’s Visit, in this 104-page volume in the popular Peaceful Piano Solos series from Hal Leonard.
Key Impressions
What I especially liked about Peaceful Piano Solos: Musicals is that as is often the case with so many arrangements, the essence of the original is not ‘lost in translation’. I couldn’t check them all, but where I could, they all appear in their original keys. In fact, most remain faithful to the original, combining the vocal line with the accompaniment as necessary.
A wide range of musicals are included, so there really is something for everyone. Older shows such as Guys & Dolls, The Music Man and South Pacific sit alongside musicals from the late-20th century, such as those by Andrew Lloyd Webber, including Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera. More recent shows feature too, including Frozen, Wicked, Matilda and Waitress.
I would venture to suggest that most of the songs included in Peaceful Piano Solos: Musicals will suit players at Grade 5 and above, though some of my keen lower grade students have successfully attempted some of the trickier numbers such as ‘I’m Not That Girl’ from Wicked and ‘Send in the Clowns’ from A Little Night Music.
I particularly enjoyed ‘Somewhere That’s Green’ from A Little Shop of Horrors, ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ from South Pacific, and ‘My House’ from Matilda, but if truth be told, I enjoyed them all, and I’m sure you will too. There is a little overlap with other volumes, with the same arrangements appearing elsewhere, but overall, there is sufficient material here to make the book worthwhile.
The Verdict
This is essentially the book I wish I’d had as a child - though at least all those books of vocal selections taught me some of the skills needed to condense three staves into two! The back cover suggests this is a book which encourages you to relax at the piano with ‘satisfying and profoundly beautiful’ pieces to play, and I think that’s absolutely true.
I spent a hugely enjoyable hour playing through the whole book, reconnecting with old favourites, and discovering some new songs along the way. This book offers excellent value for money, and the fact that so many songs have been combined into a single volume means you’ll almost certainly find some of your favourites here.
A really lovely book - highly recommended!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Peaceful Piano Solos: Musicals, was published in 2025 by Hal Leonard, ISBN 9798350140682, RRP £16.99.
I was sent a review copy of this book free of charge; however, this review is my honest opinion as a teacher. You can find my Reviews Policy here.
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Star ratings reflect my personal opinion based on usefulness, creativity, presentation, and appeal for teachers and players. I only review publications I can genuinely recommend (3 stars and above):
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Worth exploring - A solid and dependable publication with moments of interest.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recommended - Thoughtful and well-presented; many teachers and players will enjoy using it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended - Beautifully written, inspiring, and one I’ll return to often.
