Piano Pronto® Coda: Soundtrack

Another Day, composed by Amanda W. Smith, is an elegant lyrical solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Set Sail songbook.

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.

O Come O Come Emmanuel arranged for intermediates in a lyrical showcase-style jazz setting by Jennifer Eklund. Part of the Jazzy Jingles Volume 2 songbook.

Stars in the Sky invites pianists on a shimmering journey through a magical winter landscape, where each note glimmers like starlight on a cold, clear night. This piece in A minor features a delicate three-against-two rhythm, perfect for developing rhythmic independence while creating an ethereal soundscape. Ideal for winter-themed recitals or any occasion where you want to capture the beauty of the night sky, this piece by Stacy Fahrion invites intermediate pianists to explore rhythm and expression in a way that feels as timeless as the stars themselves. The title is a mnemonic phrase for the composite three against two rhythm.

Back to the Hymns: Volume 2 is a collection of nine timeless sacred melodies arranged artfully by Kevin Costley. These elegant solos will delight pianists of all ages and serve as a joyful addition to any service.

Mountain Rainstorm depicts a storm that rushes in quickly and then gracefully recedes into the mountainscape as swiftly as it arrived, something that happens frequently in the afternoons in the Rocky Mountains. This lively post-minimal piece features broken octaves in the left hand that only happen on black keys. It begins in E-flat Dorian and ends in G-flat major. The time signature regularly alternates between two measures of 6/8 with two measures of 7/8, but the composite rhythm between the hands is simply steady eighth notes.

This packet, along with High School 4B, is what you want to use for a High School band, choir, orchestra or theory class that has already learned major and minor key signatures, major & minor scales, and 6/8 time. Concepts include: Pre-test, perfect, major, minor, diminished & augmented intervals & triads, inversion of intervals, tritone, parallel keys, melody writing, whole tone, chromatic & pentatonic scales, major & 3 types of minor scales, ear-training, teacher ear-training guide. Answer booklet included!

Just a little ditty by Stacy Fahrion about zombies shambling on Old MacDonald’s Farm. Ideal for early intermediates and beyond.

Chromatic Rag, composed by Joanne Griffiths, is an exciting cacophony of contrary motion chromatic scales, tamed into a jaunty pastiche of Joplin. It is based on popular left-hand patterns, interspersed with symmetrical chromatic runs, and therefore suitable for an intermediate player.

Recordings for the Dreamweaver songbook by Jennifer Eklund.

Enjoy the peaceful sounds of Christmas with this medley that weaves together “Dona nobis pacem” and "Silent Night.” This intermediate arrangement by Sandra Zylstra is written for two pianos/four hands.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing in a lyrical duet setting ideal for two intermediates. Music arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Brand New Day, composed by Ryan Chesser, is an uplifting lyrical solo for intermediates. This selection is part of the Brand New Day songbook.

Indian Summer, composed by Sara Tomlinson, is a reflective ambient solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Creation Collage songbook.

August is a new age piano solo, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien NCTM, for intermediate and late intermediate pianists. The pedagogical focus of this selection is small hand accessibility. The waltz-time setting and straight eighths are ideal for helping players achieve a fluid technique and a sense of forward motion. The melodic content is “hidden” within the right hand eighths and gives ample opportunity for developing sophisticated voicing.

Gloomy Old Saint Nick is a jazzy ditty about how it’s okay not to be jolly all the time, even during the holidays. Music arranged by Stacy Fahrion.

Remember When is solo by Sara Tomlinson featuring warm, rich harmonies and a tender melody. The middle section features arpeggiated figures and melodic flourishes, expanding on the original theme. The piece concludes with a fond return of the A section in simplified form.

A tender story of winter becoming spring by Ryan Chesser. Perfect for students to learn how to be expressive and evoke emotion using dynamics and tempo changes. This multi-level pack includes two different versions for early intermediates and intermediates.