Kaleidoscope: Volume 3

Clocks by Joanne Griffiths has a contemporary feel with echoes of Philip Glass. Control, balance and concentration will be needed to maintain the 2 against 3 cross rhythms. Ideal for intermediates of all ages!

Waiting is a haunting, contemporary style piano solo for late intermediate/early advanced students by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This is a beautifully expressive lyrical showcase piece for maturing students of all ages.

Bittersweet is a dramatic contemporary lyrical solo composed by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick. This minor-key showcase piece will delight late-intermediates of all ages!

Recuerdos de la Alhambra, originally written for classical guitar by Francisco Tárrega, arranged for piano by Debbie Center. This is a lovely Spanish-style showstopper for any occasion!

New Beginnings is an upbeat and uplifting contemporary pop-style solo by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick. This selection will delight intermediates of all ages and makes a great recital or festival piece.

Pernicious Pumpkin is a whimsically macabre concoction of nursery rhymes by Stacy Fahrion. This eclectic, minor-key gem will be a hit with teens and intermediates of all ages.

Awkward Waltz is a tender, minor-key anthem for introverts composed by Stacy Fahrion. This contemplative gem will be a hit with teens and intermediates of all ages.

Rain is a pensive lyrical style showcase piano solo for late intermediate pianists. New Age meets Baroque, contemporary styling with elegant contrapuntal touches.

Beyond the Stars is a quiet and contemplative lyrical piano solo for late intermediate pianists. Music by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Dreamweaver songbook.

Goodnight, Sweet Dreams is a Composers Today award winning composition by Lisa Donovan Lukas. An inspirational contemporary lyrical showcase solo, ideal for the advanced student.

Circle of Friends, by Rick Robertson, is a two-volume collection containing a total of 24 character pieces for piano in each of the major and minor keys (minus enharmonic equivalents), in a manner similar to the Prelude sets by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and the like. The sequence as published is arranged in a rough order of difficulty, allowing for convenience in page turns here and there.

The title alludes as well to the familiar “Circle of Keys’. As for “friends”, each piece is dedicated to a close friend, colleague, or student. A few pieces in Volume One are at the early intermediate level, while Volume Two is solidly at the intermediate level with a steady trajectory of more demanding musical concepts.

Portrait No.2, Spirited Castle is a late intermediate solo composed in the likes of Joe Hisaishi. Students will enjoy the bright and upbeat jazz waltz feel, soaring melody, as well as exploring scintillating quartal harmonies in left hand accompaniment. This piece is perfect for openers or dramatic finishes at recitals, festival solos, and more!

Long Road Home is a lyrical, intermediate level piano solo for pianists of all ages. Music composed by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Dreamweaver songbook.

Promises of a New Day is an uplifting contemporary lyrical solo that celebrates the efervescent light of the sunrise. Composed by Debbie Center, this solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages.

Serious Moonlight, composed by Ron Levy, is a contemporary lyrical solo, inspired by Claude Debussy’s Clair de lune, for intermediates and late intermediates.

This new lyrical solo from Ryan Chesser is perfect for sipping coffee at your window on wintry days. There are lots of opportunities here for expressiveness, rubato, and plenty of sparkly, crisp notes.

Falling Slowly is a whimsically macabre lyrical solo composed by Stacy Fahrion. This solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages and is part of the These Are Odd Times songbook.

Portrait No.3 A Treasured Moment, is a late intermediate solo composed by Travis Lohmann, which pays homage to the Impressionistic colors of French composer Claude Debussy. A contemplative beginning with resonant and sonorous chords is a fantastic way to get students thinking about touch and tone color when performing. The increasingly more energetic middle section allows students to become more dexterous with rapid arpeggiated extended chords, as well as the evocative colors of the whole tone scale. The piece concludes with a distant call-back to the original main theme with jazz-influenced harmonies before having a triumphant send off of lush chords reminiscent of bells tolling far away.