Under the Big Top

Inner Turmoil is a fury-filled, fast and flashy advanced showcase piano solo by Canadian composer, Lisa Frederick. Perfect for teens looking for an impressive spotlight solo for their next performance.

Chaos by Lisa Frederick is the perfect showcase solo piece for your students who are begging for fast and flashy minor-key pieces. Ideal for late intermediates of all ages, this will be a hit at your next recital!

Beethoven’s familiar two-note theme is used throughout this evenly-leveled piano duet by Dolce Dolls team Marcia Benson and Heidi Hansen in unexpected ways. This showcase piece is ideal for early intermediates and up.

This slightly sinister stride duet by Stacy Fahrion incorporates a few simplified snippets of Chopin’s Etude in A Minor, Op. 10, No. 2.

Little Tarantella, composed by Jenny Walker, mimics the Italian style of folk dance that has an upbeat, triple time tempo accompanied by tambourines. This lively solo is ideal for advancing intermediates of all ages.

Glass Houses by Amanda W. Smith is a mysterious sounding, video-game style duet for two beginners in the key of C minor.

Popcorn & Peanuts is an upbeat evenly-leveled duet composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This selection is ideal for two late beginners.

Mambo a la Mozart is a showstopper duet for two late-intermediates based on Mozart’s iconic theme from Symphony No. 40 in G minor. Music by Jennifer Eklund.

Lucky Shamrock, part of Lisa Donovan Lukas’s Dynamic Duos songbook, is a delightful evenly-leveled duet for two late-beginners. Enjoy this piece as a St. Patrick’s Day favorite or at any time of the year! This piece has been selected for the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, 2020-2024.

Midnight Madness is an evenly-leveled spy-themed duet by Canadian composer, Lisa Frederick. This minor-key showcase is ideal for early intermediates.

Fun Run by British composer Jenny Walker is a fairly fast advanced level showcase solo. The spirit of a fun run is captured here, with interesting harmonies as the runners twist and turn and an underlying pace for everyone to follow.

Dark to Light is a fast and flashy evenly-leveled duet for two early intermediates. Music by Jennifer Eklund.

Ready or Not! is a fast and flashy evenly-leveled duet for early intermediates composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the Dynamic Duos songbook.

Calliope Capers is an upbeat evenly-leveled duet for late beginners composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas.

Disjointed Waltz, composed by Jenny Walker, is an evocative waltz with a few surprises. It contains some dynamic time and key changes. It has been written with the advanced player in mind, though rubato could be used to make things easier. The changeover to 6/8 works well and the syncopated rhythms are very effective.

On Your Case by Lisa Frederick is a minor-key jazzy showcase solo for late intermediates of all ages. Ideal for students who want spy-themed pieces, this will be a sure-fire hit at your next recital!

Double Trouble is a book of unique duets by Stacy Fahrion. This book gives pianists opportunities to experiment with blues improvisation and extended techniques. It includes showy pieces in odd meters, several wild boogies, a melancholy lyrical waltz, and, of course, a tarantella that has Itsy Bitsy Spider surreptitiously woven into it. Most of the pieces are based in minor keys, modal, or use the double harmonic major scale.

Toccata Staccata, composed by Rick Robertson is an intermediate level showcase solo. Its staccato parallel chords with a hint of Latin flavor give the advancing performer an exciting showpiece.