Sarah Reaser O’Brien

Backyard Bash is a collection of solos written for beginning pianists who enjoy playing music with lyrics. With the exception of three pieces, Crazy Cat, Old Dog, and Tree Swallow, these songs describe actual events that have happened in my suburban backyard in Southwest Virginia. Crazy Cat combines the personalities of two of our family cats, Calhoun and Casper, into one. Old Dog is about our Golden Retriever, Clyde, who lived with us when we started our family and was the kindest and most gentle dog I’ve ever known. Tree Swallow is about a male tree swallow who behaved exactly as described in the lyrics, but in my father’s backyard rather than in mine. I have found that my students love playing these songs because they sound more difficult than they are, and they are fun to sing along with! I hope you enjoy these musical nature studies and learn to play them all! - Sarah O’Brien

Backyard Bash, Volume 2, is a collection of solos written for late beginning pianists who enjoy playing music with lyrics. It is the sequel to Backyard Bash and offers just enough additional difficulty to challenge and delight students. These pieces were written about actual creatures which inhabit our Southwest Virginia backyard, and the lyrics are intended to facilitate study of the music while also amusing the performer. I have found that my students love playing these songs because they sound more difficult than they are, and they are fun to sing along with! I hope you enjoy these musical nature studies and learn to play them all!

Got tech-obsessed students in your studio? Smart Tones is a tantalizing set of ten showcase solos composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. These tech-themed pieces are ideal for late beginners and up!

Star City Solos is a collection of dynamic character pieces by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, written in homage of her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. This delightful and varied set will be enjoyed by intermediates of all ages.

Full Circle: A Year in Twelve Pieces features engaging, attractively varied intermediate level solos by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM. This collection will challenge and delight students of all ages with pedagogically sound writing that will help them grow as musicians and performers alike. Perfect showcase pieces for recitals, festival performances, or just casual enjoyment.

Stinky Skunk is a minor-key showcase solo for late beginners that includes lyrics. This piece composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien is part of the Backyard Bash Volume 2 songbook.

Mysterious Fox is a minor-key spooky showcase solo for late beginners that includes lyrics. This piece composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien is part of the Backyard Bash Volume 2 songbook.

Groundhog Day is a showcase solo for late beginners that includes lyrics. This piece composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien is part of the Backyard Bash Volume 2 songbook.

Terrifying Trilogy is an eerie and mysterious three-piece set with Hitchcock-inspired titles spanning late-elementary to early intermediate levels. All three pieces are in an expanded C minor five-finger hand position. With fast-slow-fast tempo indications, the three solos work well as movements of a modern sonatina or as stand-alone material.

Riding the Wave is an easy rock-style solo for late elementary and early intermediate students composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. They will enjoy the easy mastery of the recurring bass pattern and have fun with the difficult-sounding eighth-note passages in the right hand. Great for students currently working late in the Piano Pronto Prelude method book or early in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Heart on Fire is an easy and rewarding pop-style tune by Sarah Reaser O’Brien for late beginners. It’s loaded with impressive-sounding eighth notes in simple patterns and is supported by sophisticated harmony. It also serves as a fun sight-reading exercise for intermediates!

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today in a majestic setting arranged by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This sacred Easter classic is full of lush modern harmonies and will be enjoyed by late intermediates of all ages. Includes a full sheet of lyrics with all verses.

The Day of Resurrection!, in a jubilant setting arranged by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This Easter classic is full of lush modern harmonies and will be enjoyed by intermediates of all ages. Includes a full sheet of lyrics with all verses.

Be Thou My Vision in an elegant setting arranged by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This sacred classic is full of lush modern harmonies and will be enjoyed by late intermediates of all ages. Includes a full sheet of lyrics with all verses.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus in a peaceful setting arranged by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This sacred classic is full of lush modern harmonies and will be enjoyed by intermediates of all ages. Includes a full sheet of lyrics with all three verses.

Morning Sounds is an easy lyrical solo for beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien that includes lyrics. This piece serves as a great introduction to playing in waltz-time, crossovers, and easy open-fifth position shifts with the left hand.

Night Sounds is an easy lyrical solo for beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien that includes lyrics. This piece serves as a great introduction to ties and easy position shifts.

Blue Jay Blues is an easy bluesy solo for beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien that includes lyrics. This piece serves as a great introduction to 12-bar blues, easy position shifts, and swing-style eighth notes.

Sneaky Raccoon is an easy showcase solo for beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien that includes lyrics. This piece serves as a great introduction to playing in waltz-time, crossovers, and easy open-fifth position shifts with the left hand.

Broken-Hearted You is an upbeat country-style solo composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This light-hearted swinging solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages!

Trillium is a graceful lyrical solo composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This elegant waltz is ideal for intermediates.

Upgraded, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, is a 1950s-style showcase solo for early intermediates. This piece is part of the Smart Tones, tech-themed songbook.

Incoming Call, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, is a catchy showcase solo for late beginners. This piece is part of the Smart Tones, tech-themed songbook.

Got tech-obsessed students in your studio? Scrolling is a tantalizing easy showcase solo for late beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. This piece is part of the Smart Tones songbook.