Easy Backyard Bash

Dino Dance is a romping, stomping fun solo for beginners with an energetic swing-style teacher duet part. Composed by Jane Tate, this showcase solo will delight students and audiences.

The Last Unicorn is an easy lyrical waltz with teacher duet composed by Chrissy Ricker. This showcase piece is part of the Ready to Quest songbook.

Great Whites is an easy and engaging bass clef solo with teacher duet by Kris Skaletski that focuses on playing open fifths. This solo can be taught by rote and is part of the Under the C songbook.

Daisy Dog is lyrical waltz for primers from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally, and includes a teacher duet part. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

Blowfish Boogie is a fun romping bass clef solo with teacher duet by Kris Skaletski. This rockin’ solo can be taught by rote and is part of the Under the C songbook.

Campsite Critters is a lyrical primer level solo, from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally, and includes a teacher duet part. This piece serves as a great introduction to playing eighth notes. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

Sunny Day is a delightful, lyrical solo written at three different levels by Robyn Fehrenbacher. Includes two beginner versions with optional teacher duet, as well as a solo version for late beginners of all ages.

Barnyard Boogies is an upbeat primer level solo from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally Volume 2, and includes a teacher duet part. This piece serves as a great introduction to eighth notes and ties. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

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

Vivaldi’s iconic Spring Theme, from The Four Seasons, arranged for late beginners of all ages by Jennifer Eklund. Includes an upbeat, contemporary teacher accompaniment. Part of the Piano Pronto: Movement 1 method book.

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.

“A” is for Ant is a jazzy, minor-key primer level solo, from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally, and includes a teacher duet part. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

Under the ‘C’ is an engaging collection of bass clef rote pieces that are approachable for all learners, with titles and lyrics inspired by the deep sea and its creatures. These pattern-based pieces are well-suited for developing technique, establishing an inner pulse, and supporting on-staff reading while building skill and confidence. Music and lesson plans by Kris Skaletski with teacher duets composed by Jennifer Eklund. Super Soundtrack includes orchestrated backing tracks and teacher duet parts with and without the student part.

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.

Snake Dance, arranged for beginners by Jennifer Eklund, is a favorite tune from the Piano Pronto: Prelude book for beginners of all ages. The sassy, tango-inspired teacher duet part, included with purchase, is always a hit at recitals!

Chicken Coop Cha-Cha is a sassy, Latin-style primer level solo from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally Volume 2, and includes a teacher duet part. This piece serves as a great introduction to recognizing and playing harmonic 4ths and 2nds. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

Sheep, Sheep, Sheep is a sassy, minor-key primer level solo, from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally, and includes a teacher duet part. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.

Keep on Moo-ving is a jazzy, minor-key primer level solo from Roadtrip: Rockstar Rally Volume 2, and includes a teacher duet part. This piece serves as a great introduction to swing-stye eighth notes. Music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski.