One thing I am proud of with the entire Broadway JR and MTI Kids collection, is that the range of difficulty is from easy to difficult. When teachers ask advice,(and it is marked in our catologs) about the difficulty of a show, we can suggest one that fits their level of experience without hesitation. Disney's Little Mermaid JR is a BIG show, just about anyway you look at it. It has an abundance of music that has been edited to be as authentic as possible to Menkin's original and still be accessible to young performers. Experienced teachers know how to adapt it for more accessibility for their kids by adding voices to some solo parts, not using the high octaves and making other smart but necessary musical adjustments. A brand new teacher? Possibly make another choice for a first show. These shows are also DESIGNED to use the accompaniment CD so that the directors can spend time doing what they need to do, or saving budget on an accompanist and STILL have an accompaniment true to the score. If these were simplified to another level, the directors that use them hoping for a piano/vocal they can perform and arrange from would be dissappointed also. There is an amazing amount of time and expertise that goes into these studio recordings so they are rewarding for this age voice to perform with and sound good. If you choose to perform with the PV and rhythm section, plan on it being more like the original score. Little Mermaid has been one of the most sought after titles in this collection in years. Is it the easiest title? No. Is it for a grade k-5 performance? Maybe not, yet I can put anyone in touch with a group that adapted it MORE than successfully for 3 different levels. Sometimes directors want a title so much that the extra efforts to make it accessible for their kids is worth it, and I have seen teachers jump into this without a look see or perusal because they love the music. (So do I!). My suggestion is take a look and order a perusal, email and ask other teachers, call me if you have concerns about your choice. It is a wonderful show and CAN be done simply to showcase the story and your kids OR it can be done with every bell and whistle into a "Part of Your World" your audience has never experienced. Rewards are big if you do your homework! C.