The ARBAN COMPANION, essentially second (duet) parts to the Fourteen Characteristic Studies of Jean Baptiste Arban and part of Triplo Press's COMPANION SERIES, evolved from many years of using etudes from the standard pedagogical literature with students and playing "behind" them to help with conceptions of sound, style, pitch, tempo, and phrase. In my experience, it was quickly found that focus on technique quickly gave way to a much more musical experience. These 14 etudes are fun, challenging, and satisfying by themselves, and can be played and studied as stand-alone works. They are most effective, however, when played as conceived: as duets to Arban's Fourteen Characteristic Studies, published in almost every rendition of his Conservatory Method. The editing of dynamics and articulations of the Arban Companion is based on the publication of the Arban Complete Conservatory Method by Carl Fischer, Inc.