Backyard Bash: Volume Two

This combo deal includes both volumes of Backyard Bash featuring easy, engaging solos with music and lyrics by Sarah Reaser O’Brien. These volumes are ideal for beginners and late beginners.

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

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.

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.

Waltz of the Daffodils, composed by Kevin Costley, is an elegant waltz for late beginners. This pattern-based piece would be an ideal recital or festival selection.

Opening Day, composed by Ron Levy, is an uplifting easy showcase solo ideal for late beginners and early intermediates of all ages!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Water Lillies, composed by Kevin Costley, is an easy elegant lyrical solo that will delight late beginners 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!

A modern mellow spin on the third movement of the Spring concerto from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” arranged for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund.

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

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.

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

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.

Soaring on the Wings of Stallions, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is a mesmerizing showcase solo ideal for late beginners. This piece is part of the Fantasies & Fairy Tales Volume 2 songbook.