Cruisin’

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!

Three Moods for Piano, composed by Rick Robertson, is an late intermediate level triptych in a percussive twentieth-century style. The outer movements, both crisp and rhythmic (the first in constantly changing meters) flank a short, expressive middle movement. It is very effective in performance, and makes an excellent repertoire choice for a developing pianist.

This is the first “Whimsically Macabre” composition Stacy Fahrion wrote, back in 2012. It begins with a quote from Chopin’s Winter Wind Etude, then segues into hints of a slightly menacing version of Do You Know the Muffin Man.

Dance of the Loons, by Debbie Center, was inspired by the wail and tremolo calls of the loons on her northern Minnesota lake. The piano mimics the calls of the loons in this hauntingly beautiful tribute to Minnesota’s state bird. This piece is on Debbie’s CD entitled “In Harmony All Ways.”

Lullabies for Arachnophobes by Stacy Fahrion is a whimsically macabre collection written in homage of spindly spiders of all shapes and sizes. Rife with quirky rhythms, harmonies, and re-spindled versions of spidery classics, this collection will delight advanced players of all ages.

Taken Aback is an elegant lyrical showcase solo for late intermediates composed by British composer Jenny Walker.

Easy on the ears and downright fun to play, Toccata Breve by Paul Sweet packs catchy melodies, interesting harmonies, and showy passagework into a solo both teachers and students will love!

Nice Little Monster is a bluesy piece by Stacy Fahrion about a creature that is tired of being called a little monster. Ideal for intermediates of all ages.

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.

Keep the Change is a lyrical jazz waltz in B minor with a written out improvisation. Great as a launching point for intermediates into jazz studies.

July is a ragtime solo for intermediate pianists composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien.It is ideal study material for those who would enjoy historical rags but need a more manageable arrangement and hand span than those typically offer. There is syncopation throughout all of the three principle melodies with a steady quarter note accompaniment in the left hand for the majority of the piece.

All aboard! Choo-Choo-Boogie is a blues-boogie style piano solo by Canadian composer, Lisa Frederick. This showcase solo, ideal for advancing intermediates will delight students of all ages!

Seaside, composed by Rick Robertson, is a late intermediate contemporary lyrical solo. With its gentle syncopation, it suggests a modern barcarolle.

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.

Get your body moving with this upbeat boogie-style solo by Paul Sweet. It’s great for working on syncopations, building left-hand agility, teaching the blues scale, and having some major fun!

Fearless, composed by Christina Mathis, is an exciting advanced showcase solo full of energy that is sure to become a favorite in your studio.

Londonderry Air (O, Danny Boy) arranged in a lyrical and up-tempo jazzy style for intermediates. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Portrait No. 6: Apeñas Amigos is an Intermediate to Late Intermediate work- paying tribute to Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti, and it combines elements of both Classical and Jazz idioms. A hauntingly lyrical melody plays throughout the beginning and end of the work, while students will also be exploring various angular sequences as well. Teachers will enjoy this work for its lush harmonic content, perpetual rhythmic drive, as well as teaching various articulations and how to handle various tempi.  Intertwined within this work is a brief section of frenetic chaos, as well as a jovial (and dissonant) left-hand melody, which is sure to give students a real workout!