Happy Birthday

A whimsical 12-tone version of Happy Birthday to play for sad birthdays. Music arranged by Stacy Fahrion.

Every pianist needs Happy Birthday in their repertoire, and this ragtime version by Chrissy Ricker is a fresh take on the familiar classic! Perfect for early intermediates of all ages.

Midnight Bells Are Ringing, is an easy multi-level solo by Jennifer Eklund for beginners and late beginners of all ages. This piece is a spooky spin on “Frère Jacques” that will delight students during the Halloween season or anytime a minor mood strikes!

Multi-level solo collection of Lavender’s Blue arranged by Jennifer Eklund. Includes four solo versions spanning primer through late-beginning levels and a teacher duet.

Scarborough Fair arranged as an easy solo with a haunting teacher duet part. Ideal for beginners and late beginners of all ages. Music by Jennifer Eklund.

Zum Gali Gali, a traditional Israeli folk tune, presented in four different versions, appropriate for primers through late beginners. Arranged by Jennifer Eklund.

Note: If you are interested in even more versions of this piece consider the Zum Gali Gali Mega Pack that features five solo versions, a trio for beginners, and transposition worksheets.

Blue Jay Blues is an easy bluesy solo for beginners composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien that includes lyrics. This piece serves as a great introduction to 12-bar blues, easy position shifts, and swing-style eighth notes.

Yankee Doodle with teacher accompaniment part arranged by Jennifer Eklund for beginners of all ages. This patriotic favorite is part of the Piano Pronto: Movement 1 method book.

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.

Keep Rising is a simple, uplifting lyrical solo for beginners of all ages. Composed by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Easy Spotlight Solos songbook.

On Your Mark by Rick Robertson is a fast and flash late-elementary level showcase solo. It stays in a fixed hand position and enables the student to work on velocity.

First Rhapsodies & Reveries is a collection of fourteen easy solos in lyrical and showcase rhapsodic styles by Chrissy Ricker. This collection is ideal for beginners and late beginners of all ages.

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

Winter Sky is a beautiful lyrical showcase piece for the early elementary level student of any age, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas. Includes an accompanying teacher duet part and lyrics which can be sung, or used for interpretation.

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.

Rockin’ Rocket Ship, is a minor-key beginning level solo with music and lyrics by Jennifer Eklund and Kris Skaletski. This easy showcase includes a teacher duet and is part of the Roadtrip: Space Odyssey.

Don’t Get it Twisted is a fun and lively minor-key showcase solo for late beginners of all ages. Great piece for working on phrasing and proper articulation techniques. Part of the Easy Spotlight Solos songbook.

Interlude features thirty familiar solos from Keyboard Kickoff, Prelude, and Pronto Pizazz Volume 1, transposed to the keys of G and F major, and adjusted to include more independent work between the hands. The pieces, which include teacher duets, can be used to challenge early beginners, as a lateral move for students who need reading reinforcement, or for transfer students who need a refresher of basic concepts before starting Movement 1.