Songbooks

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.

Enjoy the Ride is a delightful collection of intermediate solos by Lisa Donovan Lukas featuring a variety of tonal centers and styles. These eleven selections are ideal for intermediates of all ages.

Circle of Friends, by Rick Robertson, is a two-volume collection containing a total of 24 character pieces for piano in each of the major and minor keys (minus enharmonic equivalents), in a manner similar to the Prelude sets by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and the like. The sequence as published is arranged in a rough order of difficulty, allowing for convenience in page turns here and there.

The title alludes as well to the familiar “Circle of Keys’. As for “friends”, each piece is dedicated to a close friend, colleague, or student. A few pieces in Volume One are at the early intermediate level, while Volume Two is solidly at the intermediate level with a steady trajectory of more demanding musical concepts.

Circle of Friends, by Rick Robertson, is a two-volume collection containing a total of 24 character pieces for piano in each of the major and minor keys (minus enharmonic equivalents), in a manner similar to the Prelude sets by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and the like. The sequence as published is arranged in a rough order of difficulty, allowing for convenience in page turns here and there.

The title alludes as well to the familiar “Circle of Keys’. As for “friends”, each piece is dedicated to a close friend, colleague, or student. A few pieces in Volume One are at the early intermediate level, while Volume Two is solidly at the intermediate level with a steady trajectory of more demanding musical concepts.

The Book of Spells by Stacy Fahrion is designed to ease intermediate pianists of all ages into improvising in different imaginative ways, using different time signatures, modes, pentatonic scales, odd meters, and occasional 2:3 polyrhythms. Each spell has at least one section where pianists have the opportunity to create their own melodies, using a suggested rhythm to help them get started. Most of the pieces feature an ostinato of some kind in the left hand. Several of these pieces are inspired by the composer’s studies of North Indian ragas. This book is ideal for intermediate pianists who would like to learn to improvise and compose their own music, and is also a source of fresh ideas for students who are already improvising and composing.

Star City Solos is a collection of dynamic character pieces by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, written in homage of her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. This delightful and varied set will be enjoyed by intermediates of all ages.

Potpourri is an imaginative collection of ten showcase solos composed by Barbara Becker. Full of evocative harmonies and a variety of genres, this is a songbook intermediates of all ages will enjoy growing with.

It has been said that the Chopin Waltzes are ‘dances for the soul, not the body.’ Filled with a range of emotion, the Waltzes have been simplified and arranged by Lisa Shoemaker with younger players in mind, or those who simply want to enjoy Chopin’s masterpieces with less work!

The Wellspring suite, composed by Jenny Walker, depicts the journey of a mountain stream, from its humble beginnings high up in the hills of County Down, all the way to its final destination where it flows into the sea. Within them are snippets of Irish style reels, jigs, and songs, resulting in a varied and beautiful collection for intermediates.

Creation Collage is a collection of ten season-themed character pieces by Sara Tomlinson. This book of contemporary, showcase-style works will delight intermediates of all ages.

Set Sail is a collection of eleven, showcase style solos for intermediates composed by Amanda W. Smith. With a balanced mix of flashy and lyrical selections, this songbook will be a favorite with students of all ages!

The Lullabies & Laments songbook features eleven originals solos initially inspired in 2023 by the arrival of my grandson Theo. It was clear from the start that gentle piano music consoled him, so I endeavored to write him his own lullaby.

Each dedicated piece requires controlled, balanced and calm playing. The repetitive, gently rocking rhythms aim to be soothing to both player and listener, with an overall relaxing feeling and an easing of any tension.

Monday’s Child is a suite of seven character pieces, composed by Joanne Griffiths, based on the children’s traditional British fortune-telling poem “Monday’s Child.” It is contemporary in style, particularly influenced by Ludovico Einaudi and Arvo Part. The pieces are mainly light and gentle in mood with meditative patterns, sequences, imitation and repetition at the core and topped with lyrical melodies, portraying the character of each child for that day.

Ebb & Flow is a collection of eleven contemporary solos by British composer, Joanne Griffiths. Intermediates of all ages will enjoy exploring the various genres encapsulated in this collection of ambient solos.

Double Takes is a set of seven pairs of Rags and Blues, composed by Joanne Griffiths, and inspired by J.S.Bach’s Preludes and Fugues. Each pair is a study in contrasting styles, mood, rhythm, tempo, articulation, dynamic range and textures.

The collection progresses up the keyboard, through a range of keys beginning on C and ending with B, and covers many pedagogical techniques for an intermediate pianist whilst still remaining engaging and fun.

Dreamweaver is a collection of fourteen contemporary lyrical solos composed by Jennifer Eklund for intermediates and above. This book contains selections for the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, 2020-2024.

UPDATE: The e-book edition of this songbook was updated in September of 2024 with new engravings and some minor corrections to courtesy accidentals and rhythmic notations.

New Horizons songbook features contemporary lyrical piano solos composed by Jennifer Eklund that are ideal for intermediates of all ages.

Impressions is a suite of contemporary lyrical solos by Jennifer Eklund that will be a hit with intermediates of all ages.

Need music for a wedding, a party, church offertory, or any occasion where beautiful background music is a necessity? This is your new go-to gig book! Let There be Music features 45 performance-ready pieces by Jennifer Eklund that will suit any occasion. Selections include classical favorites, contemporary lyrical pieces, and sacred works. Available as a convenient eBook so you can stop lugging music books around.

Souvenirs is an collection of thirteen New Age style solos for intermediates composed by Rick Robertson. These elegant and evocative solos will be enjoyed by students of all ages, especially teens and adults.

Full Circle: A Year in Twelve Pieces features engaging, attractively varied intermediate level solos by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM. This collection will challenge and delight students of all ages with pedagogically sound writing that will help them grow as musicians and performers alike. Perfect showcase pieces for recitals, festival performances, or just casual enjoyment.

The idea for this book came from listening to some of my favorite piano literature. Enchanted by the absolutely beautiful, lyrical melodies of Chopin’s Opus 28, I found myself wishing my own intermediate students could enjoy them now, and not just the handful of Preludes that are more accessible for students. As I edited these Preludes with intermediate hands and minds, it was my desire to preserve their full length, in the original keys, and with as much of Chopin’s original markings as possible. I hope you agree the result is a celebration of Chopin’s original work, but now accessible for the intermediate student!

The idea for this series came from listening to some of my favorite piano literature. Chopin was a master at creating absolutely beautiful, lyrical melodies, and I found myself wishing my own intermediate students could enjoy playing his music. This collection featuring, ten of Chopin’s Nocturnes, is the second book in this series, and is aimed at preserving as much of his original works as possible, while making them accessible for the intermediate student.

Classics for Two features twelve well-known classical melodies from all eras arranged by Sandra Zylstra for four hands. These delightful, evenly-leveled selections will be enjoyed by intermediates of all ages!