No Excuses, is an easy minor-key showcase solo for beginners with a teacher duet included. This duet by Chrissy Ricker is part of the “Ready to Rock” songbook.
This gentle, ambient piece will help ease pianists into playing in 5/4 time signature. It features broken fifths in the left hand that only happen on black keys, with a repeating chord progression of I-vi-ii-V in Gb major. The right hand stays in the same hand position throughout, other than leaping up or down by an octave.
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.
Allegro Burlesco, by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level showcase solo. Its crisp texture and rapid passagework will make an effective recital selection, and could even be used as a prelude or postlude for festive church occasions.
All Is Calm, is an elegant lyrical arrangement featuring “Silent Night,” for intermediates by Chrissy Ricker. This piece is part of “A Rockin’ Christmas” songbook.
The Brightest Star, is an elegant pop-style lyrical arrangement featuring “Away in a Manger,” for early intermediates by Chrissy Ricker. This piece is part of the “Easy Rockin’ Christmas” songbook.
Once in Royal David’s City, arranged by Rick Robertson is a late intermediate level arrangement of a less-familiar Christmas carol. It will make an effective recital selection, a prelude for church services, or perhaps for the Festival of Lessons and Carols.
As the Leaves Come Falling Down is an elegant lyrical solo for late beginners by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the A Song for all Seasons songbook.
Autumn, from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” arranged for late beginners by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the A Song for all Seasons songbook.
Hot Cocoa, is an elegant minor-key lyrical solo for late beginners by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the A Song for all Seasons songbook.
Winter, features the slow concerto theme from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” arranged for late beginners by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the A Song for all Seasons songbook.
Harvest, is a fast & flashy showcase solo for late beginners by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the A Song for all Seasons songbook.
Silent Night (Extended Remix) by Rick Robertson is an intermediate level lyrical Christmas solo. This “extended remix” consists of material from both arrangements of “Silent Night” in Rick Robertson’s Christmas collections “Christmas by Candlelight” and “Christmas Memories.”
Away in a Manger, the Kirkpatrick version, set in an elegant arrangement for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund.
Go Tell It on the Mountain, arranged for late beginners by Chrissy Ricker. This jazzy holiday favorite will sparkle at your next holiday event.
A Spell to Find Balance, composed by Stacy Fahrion, is an intermediate piece in A minor designed to ease pianists into improvising. The left-hand part is a two-bar ostinato, and keeping with the theme of balance, all of the right-hand rhythms are palindromic, the same forwards as they are backwards over two bars. The structure of the piece is also mirror-like.
A Spell for Focus, composed by Stacy Fahrion, is in 7/4, and is inspired by Raag Jog from Indian classical music. Pianists can count “1 2 3 4 1 2 3” throughout to help them stay focused. In bars 5-8 and 13-16, pianists are encouraged to improvise using the suggested rhythm and the notes C, E, F, G, and B-flat.
Joyful and Triumphant, is an elegant lyrical spin on “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arranged by Chrissy Ricker. This holiday piece is ideal for intermediates and will add sparkle to your holiday recital!
Rompin’ Reindeer, is an ultra-cool jazzy spin on “Up on the Housetop” arranged by Chrissy Ricker. This holiday piece is ideal for intermediates and will add sparkle to your holiday recital!
Into the Light, features a holiday favorite “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” arranged in a flowing lyrical style by Chrissy Ricker. This holiday piece is ideal for intermediates and will sparkle at to your holiday recital!
From Every Mountain Top, features a holiday favorite “Go Tell It on the Mountain” arranged in a slow gospel style by Chrissy Ricker. This holiday piece is ideal for intermediates and will add soulful sparkle to your holiday recital!
Clair de lune, by Claude Debussy, arranged for early intermediate piano by Jennifer Eklund. This version is an ideal starter version for young pianists with smaller hands who want to play all the sections of this iconic piece, but aren’t ready for all the octaves and thick chords from the original.
A Touch of Moonlight is an ideal “starter” version of the theme from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” This arrangement by Jennifer Eklund presents the student part at the primer level set in a 5-finger positioning and includes a duet part to complete the soundscape.
Hurry Scurry!, by Rick Robertson is an early intermediate level showcase solo in a fast and flashy style. It is inspired by the beloved Arabesque, op. 100 no. 2 by Friedrich Burgmüller. Its passages lie easily under the hands, and is effective in a variety of tempos. This will serve as a wonderful showpiece for a pianist who wants to shine!