Night Sounds

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.

Simple Serenity is a collection of fifteen easy lyrical solos composed by Jennifer Eklund. These calming pieces offer a great opportunity for beginners and late beginners to explore lyrical playing, rubato, octave shifts, and pedal work.

Just Passing By, is an easy ambient multi-level solo by Jennifer Eklund for beginners and late beginners of all ages. This piece is part of the Level Up! songbook.

Adrift is a pensive lyrical solo full of unique jazz harmonies, but easy enough for beginners and late-beginners. The sophisticated harmonies, and free-floating rubato form using multiple octaves, will make students of all ages feel successful in the early stages of lessons!

Nightscape is an easy, minor-key, lyrical solo for late beginners of all ages. This showcase piece serves as a great introduction to legato and expressive phrasing techniques. Part of the Easy Spotlight Solos songbook. This piece has been selected for the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, 2020-2024.

Cherry Blossoms, composed by Kevin Costley, is an ambient lyrical solo for late beginners. This piece serves as a great opportunity for students to work on shifting fifths in the left hand and melodic phrasing.

Once in a Blue Moon is an easy minor-key lyrical solo for late-beginners that is part of Jennifer Eklund’s Pronto Pizazz Volume 2 collection. This short study focuses on working in 6/8 time with dotted rhythms, and includes a lush teacher accompaniment.

Let It Linger is an easy minor-key lyrical solo for late-beginners that is part of Jennifer Eklund’s Pronto Pizazz Volume 2 collection. This short study focuses on shifting pentacle positions in parallel fifths and crossovers, and includes a lush teacher accompaniment.

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

Mirror Lake, by Rick Robertson, is a late-elementary level lyrical solo. A moderately slow lyrical melody is divided between the hands and bound together by pedal.

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.

Believe It or Not is an easy contemporary lyrical solo ideal for late beginners of all ages. This uplifting solo is a great introduction to syncopation and appropriate for many performance occasions. Part of the Easy Spotlight Solos songbook.

Under the Sun is a peaceful ambient solo for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This piece offers students ample opportunity to work on interpretation, rubato, and lyrical artistry and is part of the Simple Serenity: Volume Two songbook.

Someday is one of our most popular easy pop-style tunes for late beginners. This multi-pack includes both solo versions and two duet versions of this favorite that will delight students of all ages. Music composed by Jennifer Eklund.

Spiral Dance is a multi-level lyrical solo by Jennifer Eklund for beginners and late beginners of all ages. This piece is part of the Level Up! songbook.

Enchanted Garden is a sparkling, contemplative showcase solo for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This piece is a gentle way to introduce the key of G-flat major, can easily be taught by rote, and provides an opportunity to work on rubato with students in the early stages of lessons.

Dancing With My Shadow is a beautiful lyrical showcase piece for the early elementary level student of any age, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas. It includes an accompanying teacher duet part and lyrics which can be sung, and play-along duet tracks for at-home practice.

Autumn Song, composed by Rick Robertson, is an easy lyrical solo in five-finger position for beginners. This piece is part of the Spectrum songbook.