Tweedledum & Tweedledee

Journeys is an engaging collection of twelve contemporary solos by Lisa Donovan Lukas featuring an array of tonal centers and styles. These selections are ideal showcase pieces for intermediates of all ages.

Enigma, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a sassy jazz waltz for early intermediates and up. This piece is part of the Cool Cats songbook.

When You Smile, composed by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level solo in a lyrical light-pop or jazz style. It is dedicated to jazz singer Dubby Spivak, widow of the American bandleader Charlie Spivak, who is a friend of the composer.

Street Cat Strut, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a sassy funk-style solo for early intermediates and up. This piece is part of the Cool Cats songbook.

New Kid on the Block is a jazz-style showcase solo perfect for early intermediates of all ages. Music composed by Jennifer Eklund and is part of the Spotlight Solos Volume 2 and Dog Days Songbooks.

Moose on the Loose is a jazzy showcase piano solo by Lisa Frederick. This delightful hard-romping swing solo is an ideal spotlight piece for late-intermediates of all ages.

Innuendo is a Latin-flavored jazz piece in a minor key composed by Gary Johnston. The chord symbols are included for those who wish to improvise.

Jabberwocky is a playfully galumphing late-intermediate solo in D minor with a lilting swing. Adventurous pianists can even sing the words to the famous nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll whilst they play this whimsical version by Stacy Fahrion.

The original version of this piece is part of the Once Upon a Time songbook.

Rockin’ the Classics is a collection of ten pop, rock, and jazz inspired arrangements of well-known classical favorites by Chrissy Ricker. These fun and flashy intermediate level solos will excite students of all ages!

Walkin’ Tall is an intermediate level jazz style piano solo with a walking bassline that is part of the Dog Days Songbook. Music by Jennifer Eklund.

Boogie-Man Blues is a jazzy jaunt in A minor composed by Stacy Fahrion. This swinging showcase solo is ideal for intermediates.

Sideways Blues is a strange blues by Stacy Fahrion based on an eight-note scale containing these notes: E-F-G-A#-B-C-C#-D-E. Since it’s based only on that scale, most of the chords are not typical blues chords, although it follows a typical 12-bar structure. Students have the option to repeat measures 13-24 and improvise with the right hand over the chords that are already there.

Doggone Blues is a bluesy showcase solo by Canadian composer, Lisa Frederick. This piece is ideal for late beginners and early intermediates of all ages!

Midnight on the Bayou is a bluesy minor-key solo composed by Chrissy Ricker. This showcase piece, part of the Perfect Patterns PLUS songbook, is suitable for intermediates of all ages and a great exercise in left-hand leaps.

Crocodile Tears, composed by Amanda W. Smith, is an upbeat bluesy solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Set Sail songbook.

Who doesn’t love gummy bears? Gummy Bear Shuffle, composed by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level solo in a playful shuffle style. Its bouncy rhythms make it fun to listen to and play. It also could be used as a “non-scary” Halloween piece, or for any performance occasion.

While the ragtime genre really did not exist during the California Gold Rush, this collection of evocative ragtime solos by Barbara Becker, offers a musical glimpse into that wild time as San Francisco appeared and then boomed with activity. Picture a gentle dance late at night in a saloon; the joyous hope and the frequent disappointment associated with prospecting for gold; Lola Montez’s moaning about some so-and-so who did her wrong; “Mr. Moneybags” John Sutter preening in the city; and tired miners drowning their sorrows on Saturday night, then shuffling off to bed. These fun pieces fit right in with the period’s expectations of instant wealth, juxtaposed against the back-breaking work, often for little return.

Too Much Sugar Blues is a lethargic jazzy tune about eating too much candy composed by Stacy Fahrion. This blues showcase solo is ideal for intermediates.