On Your Toes!

Hummingbird, composed by Rick Robertson, is a rapid-fire late-elementary piano solo. It is an excellent velocity etude or encore piece.

The Chase is a fast piano solo with lots of flashy passage work that sounds much harder than it actually is to play! Music composed by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Spotlight Solos Volume 1 songbook.

Heptagon, by Rick Robertson, is an early-intermediate level showcase solo. A heptagon is a polygon with seven sides and seven angles. This piece, written in 7/8 time, gives a young pianist an opportunity to explore a relatively uncommon asymmetrical meter with a brief, driving, toccata-style showpiece.

Flying Solo is an easy flashy recital piece that reinforces ascending and descending arpeggios in both hands. Music for early intermediates Jennifer Eklund and part of the Songs I Love to Play Volume 2 songbook.

The Chase is a fast and flashy showcase piano solo that is part of the Dog Days songbook. Music by Jennifer Eklund.

Hungry for a fast & flashy showcase solo? Stataco Tostada is a cheeky ode to the common mispronunciations we’ve all heard a million times. This early intermediate showcase solo, arranged by Jennifer Eklund, is loosely based on traditional Mexican folk melodies and provides a great opportunity for students to work on articulations and chord inversions.

Who doesn’t love a good tarantella? Your early intermediate students will go crazy for this fun and energetic performance piece by composer Lisa Shoemaker. It’s also a great review of chromatic scales!

Hurry Scurry!, by Rick Robertson is an early intermediate level showcase solo in a fast and flashy style. It is inspired by the beloved Arabesque, op. 100 no. 2 by Friedrich Burgmüller. Its passages lie easily under the hands, and is effective in a variety of tempos. This will serve as a wonderful showpiece for a pianist who wants to shine!

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.

Planetarium, composed by Rick Robertson, is an early intermediate ambient solo. It is a useful study in finger dexterity and delicacy, and is effective in performance.

Sailor’s Tale, composed by Rick Robertson is an early intermediate level solo in a neo-Romantic lyrical style. A simply-harmonized opening theme is contrasted with a more tumultuous middle section featuring broken chords divided between the hands. This will make an excellent recital selection and is part of the Reach for the Stars songbook.

Chasing the Paints is an early intermediate showcase solo composed by Jane Tate. This fun and silly song is a showdown between horse and owner trying to catch her in the field.

Buried Treasure, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is a fast and flashy showcase solo for late beginners. This piece is part of the Fantasies & Fairy Tales songbook.

Perfect Patterns is a collection of twelve exciting showcase-style solos by Chrissy Ricker. These pattern-based pieces are ideal for early intermediates and cover a wide array of styles.

Classic Minuet, by Rick Robertson, is an early intermediate solo in classic minuet-and-trio style. It has some updated harmonies in the trio section, and is effective in recitals or festivals.

Cloak & Dagger is a fast and mysterious solo composed by Ryan Chesser. This showcase selection is ideal for early intermediates of all ages.

The Ocean’s Fury, by Rick Robertson is an intermediate to late intermediate showcase solo. Written in the style of a “concert etude,” a section of rapid alternating-hand passages contrasts with a more lyrical center section. This piece has the added benefit of being less difficult than it looks or sounds, and should be a “hit” for recitals and festivals.

Wind Whirls, composed by Rick Robertson, is an early intermediate level showcase solo. Its passages divided between the hands give it a showy effect, with some interesting harmonies.