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Swirling Seas, by Jennifer Eklund, is an easy ambient duet for two beginners. This piece is featured in the “Simple Serenity” songbook.

Into Forever, by Chrissy Ricker, is an easy lyrical solo for late beginners. This piece is part of the “Let’s Quest” songbook.

Night Skies, by Rick Robertson, is a late-elementary level lyrical solo. A plaintive melody is contrasted with a middle section based on broken chords with pedal. This would make an effective number for a recital program, and could even be used as a brief selection for a worship service.

Mirror Lake, by Rick Robertson, is a late-elementary level lyrical solo. A moderately slow lyrical melody is divided between the hands and bound together by pedal.

Sad Goodbye, by Rick Robertson, is an early-intermediate level lyrical solo. It was inspired by the loss of his longhair chihuahua Missy, and is dedicated to “Missy, and all of you who have lost fur babies.” It is an effective recital solo, and just might help a sensitive player cope with the loss of a pet.

The Ocean’s Fury, by Rick Robertson is an intermediate to late intermediate showcase solo. Written in the style of a “concert etude,” a section of rapid alternating-hand passages contrasts with a more lyrical center section. This piece has the added benefit of being less difficult than it looks or sounds, and should be a “hit” for recitals and festivals.

Wistfully, by Rick Robertson, is an intermediate level lyrical solo. It is written in a “romantic movie” style, and will make a nice brief recital solo, or as a musical interlude in a worship service.

The Swan, from “Carnival of the Animals,” arranged as an evenly-leveled duet for intermediates by Sandra Zylstra. This piece is part of the Classics for Two duet songbook.

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

Backyard Bash, Volume 2, is a collection of solos written for late beginning pianists who enjoy playing music with lyrics. It is the sequel to Backyard Bash and offers just enough additional difficulty to challenge and delight students. These pieces were written about actual creatures which inhabit our Southwest Virginia backyard, and the lyrics are intended to facilitate study of the music while also amusing the performer. 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!

A Song for All Seasons is a celebratory collection that can be enjoyed year-round by late beginners. Each season includes an arrangement of one of Vivaldi’s concertos from “The Four Seasons,” followed by two original season-specific solos composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas.

Sunny Day is a delightful, lyrical solo written at three different levels by Robyn Fehrenbacher. Includes two beginner versions with optional teacher duet, as well as a solo version for late beginners of all ages.

Vivaldi’s iconic Spring Theme, from The Four Seasons, arranged for late beginners of all ages by Jennifer Eklund. Includes an upbeat, contemporary teacher accompaniment. Part of the Piano Pronto: Movement 1 method book.

Groundhog Day is a showcase solo for late beginners that includes lyrics. This piece composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien is part of the Backyard Bash Volume 2 songbook.

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.

A modern mellow spin on the third movement of the Spring concerto from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” arranged for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund.

Golden Sunlight, composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas, is an elegant lyrical evenly-leveled duet for late beginners. This piece is part of the Dynamic Duos Volume 2 songbook.

Lucky Shamrock, part of Lisa Donovan Lukas’s Dynamic Duos songbook, is a delightful evenly-leveled duet for two late-beginners. Enjoy this piece as a St. Patrick’s Day favorite or at any time of the year! This piece has been selected for the NFMC Festivals Bulletin, 2020-2024.

Cherry Blossoms, composed by Kevin Costley, is an ambient lyrical solo for late beginners. This piece serves as a great opportunity for students to work on shifting fifths in the left hand and melodic phrasing.

Waltz of the Daffodils, composed by Kevin Costley, is an elegant waltz for late beginners. This pattern-based piece would be an ideal recital or festival selection.

Water Lillies, composed by Kevin Costley, is an easy elegant lyrical solo that will delight late beginners of all ages.

Japanese Rose, composed by Kevin Costley, is an elegant easy lyrical solo for late beginners of all ages.

Opening Day, composed by Ron Levy, is an uplifting easy showcase solo ideal for late beginners and early intermediates of all ages!

The Butterfly is an introspective, lyrical solo for early intermediates of all ages by Jennifer Eklund. With its delicate harmonies, this piece offers the opportunity for budding musicians to work on expressive playing and dynamic nuances.