What Teachers and Students Are Saying About Little Gems

Beautiful music. Joyful discovery. A lifelong love of playing piano.

There's nothing more rewarding than hearing how Little Gems is making a difference in piano studios, classrooms, and homes around the world.

From young beginners who can't wait to learn another piece to adult students rediscovering their love of piano, these stories remind me why I started writing this music in the first place.

I wanted students to experience the joy of making beautiful music from the very beginning — to develop their musicality, imagination, and confidence without having to wait years to get there.

Here's what teachers, students, educators, and fellow musicians are saying!

Music Students Can't Wait to Play

"My students love the Little Gems books and one young student who has learned over 10 pieces from the collection always asks, 'When can we learn another Gem song?' Thank you for composing and sharing such beautifully artistic and pedagogically sound pieces for students!"

Elizabeth Davis
Piano Teacher

"My young beginner students adore using the Creative Primer book. They almost always ask to play their Creative Primer pieces first at lesson time, because it's their favorite!

They love inventing titles: They dance and move around the room while I play a piece the first time, and then they tell me the story of what the music is about, and what the title should be.

I'm thrilled with the quality and variety of music content and how it sparks joyful engagement at all levels of creativity and learning: dynamics, pattern play, imagery, expression, articulation, composing and rearranging, and technical skills."

Piano Teacher

"My students think they are fun to play and this inspires them to practice. They are a great tool for beginner pianists who are having trouble reading notes since each piece can be played by rote in a very easy way. I hope Paula writes many more pieces!"

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar
Piano Teacher, San Francisco

"The Little Gems for Piano are a core part of my piano curriculum. Filled with the most magical of pieces, they never fail to leave the youngest (and even oldest) of beginners with a sense of achievement, encouraging students to not only really listen to the sounds they are making, but to also use their imagination."

Thank you, Paula, for creating such wonderful pedagogical material. My piano curriculum would be a lot less lifeless without your Little Gems.

Kate Bidwell

Beautiful Music From Day One

"Paula Dreyer's performance pieces are by far the best memorization pieces I have found for young pianists. The notes are simple, but the melodies are engaging and sound 'fancy' enough that any child would be happy to play them for family and friends."

Mary Kochenderfer
Founder of Mama Smiles

"I have had several students really enjoy learning pieces that sound very mature and aren't dependent on reading at a certain level. It's especially gratifying for older beginners to be able to showcase repertoire that sounds age appropriate.

Students even love performing Little Gems for recitals. It's impressive when they play from memory, but the patterns make it very accessible to memorize!"

Piano Teacher

"My students love these pieces! They are especially useful for students who are having difficulty learning written notation. These pieces give them an alternative way to explore beautiful music at the piano."

Jennifer Peringer
Piano Teacher

"My students first hear the piece and doubt they can play it. After breaking down the patterns and learning by rote, they are satisfied learning the pieces and want to learn more!"

Liliya Fritzsching
Piano Teacher

Creativity, Imagination & Musical Discovery

"I LOVE using the Creative Primer and Primer with my beginners and 1+ years!! It has now become part of my regular curriculum for all beginners. These books have elevated their experience and creativity — and mine!"

Piano Teacher

"One of my favorite pieces to teach in the collection is 'Current.' Not only do I use it in my studio, I now consistently teach it to my beginning piano class at the college too — they feel super successful creating a beautiful sound and it becomes a fabulous piece for them to practice transposing to other keys."

Piano Educator

"Children and adults will enjoy exploring a variety of sounds through pentatonic, whole tone, and minor modes. Many of the pieces also serve as a vehicle for teaching composition and improvisation."

Dr. Julie Knerr
Co-author of Piano Safari

What Educators and Musicians Are Saying

"Paula Dreyer's piano pieces are imaginative and captivating, engaging the students in the sounds of the piano and what these sounds can convey. The design of the early pieces lends itself to encouraging the growth of a natural, fluid technique. This is a terrific combination!"

Mary Moran
Piano Faculty, Golandsky Institute

"Little Gems for Piano contains a delightful selection of original compositions, all of which have specific learning purposes. What a pleasure to have a book for early learners that is so thoughtful, useful, and just plain fun."

Stephen Shapiro
Executive Director, Community Music Center

"This collection of inspiring pieces is a wonderful addition to the piano teacher's library. Ms. Dreyer's compositions are carefully thought out to be taught by imitation, not reading, allowing the student to focus on listening, hand placement and interpretation.

Each piece explores the piano in a different way and stimulates the student to recognize patterns in the music."

Chus Alonso
Composer and Educator

"Paula Dreyer's collection Little Gems for Piano makes a wonderful addition to the traditional teaching library. Not only are the compositions varying in compositional style, but also in approach and level.

The pieces can be used with children, adults, beginning or advanced students of any age. Even though the pieces are written for a rote approach, they can be used to teach rhythm, hand position, hand coordination, and general piano technique. I highly recommend them."

Hadley McCarroll
Piano Teacher and Concert Pianist, San Francisco

A Little Magic for Adult Piano Students, Too!

*"Little Gems for Piano is the main reason I've stuck with piano as an adult beginner. I've been taking piano lessons for about 2½ years now and I don't think I would continue unless Paula kept promising to write more.

The songs are so beautiful and accessible — it's a motivating, rewarding experience to learn each one."*

Jackie Haslam
Piano Student, Age 42

"I am an adult beginning piano student who doesn't like most piano books for beginners because they sound too childish.

Paula's music is dreamy, sparkling, and melodic with occasional dissonance. The melodies can be achingly sweet but are never saccharine. I love the variety and the collection, and I love to play her music. It's really fun to play!

As an adult beginning piano student I am grateful for Paula's simple yet sophisticated arrangements. The audio CD and the practice suggestions are very helpful."

Cindy Cosbey
Piano Student, Age 48

And What Do the Young Pianists Think?

"I have learned almost all of the songs in the book. Once I started learning 'Le Bateau sur l'eau,' I could not stop playing it. I like it when I get to move my hands across the keyboard."

Isaac F.
Piano Student, Age 8

*"These songs sound very good. I like the combination of notes because they create interesting and nice harmonies. I also really like the sound of the melodies.

These songs are more exciting and easier than my other songs, even though they sound complicated. They sound hard to learn, but they are actually easier to play than my other songs."*

Aidan Funke
Piano Student, Age 8

"I like that they are longer than my other songs. Instead of using one set of keys, I like that I get to move across the piano in different playing positions."

Ida Funke
Piano Student, Age 6

A Note From Paula

These are the kinds of experiences that make creating Little Gems so meaningful to me.

I believe every student deserves to experience the beauty, creativity, and joy of making music — regardless of their reading level, age, or experience.

Whether you're a piano teacher looking for inspiring repertoire, a parent hoping to nurture your child's musical creativity, or an adult who simply wants to play beautiful music, there's a place for you in the Little Gems collection.

Thank you to all the wonderful teachers and students who have welcomed my music into their lives. Your enthusiasm inspires me to keep composing!

With gratitude,

Paula Dreyer

Ready to discover your next Little Gem?

Explore the collection and find beautiful, expressive music your students will love playing — and you'll love teaching.

[EXPLORE THE LITTLE GEMS COLLECTION]