Soul Searching

August is a new age piano solo, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien NCTM, for intermediate and late intermediate pianists. The pedagogical focus of this selection is small hand accessibility. The waltz-time setting and straight eighths are ideal for helping players achieve a fluid technique and a sense of forward motion. The melodic content is “hidden” within the right hand eighths and gives ample opportunity for developing sophisticated voicing.

Where There Is Love, composed by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level solo in a neo-Romantic lyrical style. It is very effective in performance, and makes an excellent repertoire choice for a developing pianist. It has a brief contrasting section, bringing the first theme to a climax before it subsides. It is also suitable for worship use.

Simple Love Song, composed by Ron Levy, is an elegant solo that will delight intermediates of all ages.

Sheets of Glass is an ambient solo composed by Jane Tate. This minor-key showcase solo is a great way for intermediates to work on crossovers.

Evening Elegy, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a lyrical gem with a rhapsodic middle section and plenty of room for students to work on lyrical phrasing and rubato. This intermediate level solo is part of the Rhapsodies and Reveries Volume Two songbook.

Sun Suite, by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick, is a set of three contemporary lyrical solos celebrating the beauty of the sun at different points of the day. This set is ideal for intermediates of all ages and will function well as a set or as separate showcase solos.

Haunted Reverie, composed by Ron Levy, is a haunting lyrical solo, in the style of Erik Satie, for intermediates and beyond.

Lamentations is suite of solos composed by Joanne Griffiths for intermediate players to explore time signature changes, comparisons between simple and compound time, minimalism, and mostly how to express mood and emotion. Breathe is a peaceful, calming minimalist piece pushing the boundaries of 3/4 time and crossing it with more than a suggestion of 6/8. For Carolyn is an uplifting piece with lilting, contrasting themes, in Rondo form. Finally, Sorrow is an expression of grief, with a “bell tolling” theme throughout. It is also minimalist, centered around A minor and changing from 3 to 4 beats in the bar and covering several octaves of the piano.

For many people, November is a month for giving thanks. This intermediate piece by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM, is a contemporary rendering of a hymn-like melody. November symbolizes a musical token of gratitude for family and friends who have been with us through good times and bad and with whom we love to spend our time. The ternary form offers an uplifting first section followed by a middle theme of more serious and reflective implication. The middle theme modulates into a return of the first in a new key, representing a triumphant overcoming of life’s struggles with the help of those we hold dear.

Daydream, composed by Jenny Walker, is an elegant contemporary lyrical solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Nuances songbook.

Journeys is an engaging collection of twelve contemporary solos by Lisa Donovan Lukas featuring an array of tonal centers and styles. These selections are ideal showcase pieces for intermediates of all ages.

At the Edge by Amanda W. Smith is a wistful lyrical solo for intermediate pianists of any age. This piece offers a wonderful opportunity to work on rubato and expressive playing.

Sleeping Beauty Waltz, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, arranged by Lisa Donovan Lukas for solo piano, is a delightful, lyrical showcase piece for the intermediate pianist.

Enjoy the Ride is a delightful collection of intermediate solos by Lisa Donovan Lukas featuring a variety of tonal centers and styles. These eleven selections are ideal for intermediates of all ages.

A Brighter Day, composed by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level solo in an inspirational lyrical style. It is very effective in performance, and its uplifting mood makes it an excellent repertoire choice for a developing pianist.

Long-Legged Spinners is a whimsically macabre solo composed by Stacy Fahrion. This solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages and is part of the Lullabies for Arachnophobes songbook.

Valse Parisienne is a lyrical piano solo by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick. Inspired by Chopin’s Waltz in B minor, this waltz is ideal for intermediates of all ages and a great way to introduce the concept of rubato.

Journey’s End is a contemplative contemporary lyrical solo for intermediates that is also part of the New Horizons Songbook. Music by Jennifer Eklund.