Mysterious Fox

Turkey in the Straw sheet music is a fun little romp for late beginners that is a great recital solo. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Songs I Love to Play Volume 1 songbook.

March of the Red Ants, composed by Kevin Costley, is an showcase solo for late beginners. This piece serves as a great opportunity for students to work on playing a steady bass line, triplets, and shifting between major and minor modes.

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.

What could be nicer than a cat nap on a lazy afternoon? This laid-back jazz piece by Chrissy Ricker is sure to be a hit with early intermediates of all ages!

Spiders In My Bed is a showcase piano solo by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick that is ideal for late beginners and early intermediates. It’s a light-hearted homage to our arachnid friends with a dash of Johannes Brahms!

The Magical Unicorn, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is an elegant waltz for late beginners. This piece is part of the Fantasies & Fairy Tales songbook.

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

Lucky, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a smooth jazzy solo for late beginners that serves as a great introduction to syncopated rhythms. This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.

The Frog Prince, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is a jovial showcase solo for late beginners and up. This piece is part of the Fantasies & Fairy Tales Volume Two songbook.

My Way Blues, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a bluesy showcase solo in 6/8 time that your late beginners will love to play! This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.

The Gentle Giant, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is an easy and elegant lyrical solo for late beginners. This piece is part of the Fantasies & Fairy Tales Volume Two songbook.

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.

Carousel, composed by Rick Robertson, is a showcase solo for late beginners. Its rhythm suggests the up and down motion of a horse on a carousel, with a tune that is suggestive of a calliope.

Top Cat Boogie, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a fast 1950s rock-style solo for late beginners. This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.

Sittin’ Pretty, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a laid-back swing solo ideal for late beginners and early intermediates. This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.

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!

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.

On the Prowl is a easy minor-key showcase solo composed by Chrissy Ricker. This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.