Chromatic patterns

What could be nicer than a cat nap on a lazy afternoon? This laid-back jazz piece by Chrissy Ricker is sure to be a hit with early intermediates of all ages!

Into the Storm, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a fast and flashy showcase solo for mid- to late-beginners. Quick chromatic patterns and showy hand crossings give this piece virtuosic appeal!

Little Prayer, by Rick Robertson, is an easy lyrical solo that is part of his Spectrum Volume 1 songbook. This delicate, expressive solo, is well-suited for late beginners of all ages.

Child’s Play is a mini-suite consisting of three short pieces written by Joanne Griffiths, for left-hand only, for beginners and late-beginners. Fun to play and gives extra emphasis and practice reading the bass clef.

Easy Come, Easy Go is an easy ragtime-style jazz solo for late beginners that will reinforce syncopation and swing style eighths. Music by Jennifer Eklund and part of the Spotlight Solos Volume 2 songbook.

The Flight of the Bumblebee, composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arranged for early intermediates and up by Jennifer Eklund.

Whirligig, composed by Rick Robertson, is a fast and flashy early intermediate showcase solo. This showcase solo makes a great impression and is hand-friendly, highly-patterned, and easy to learn.

Summertime Rag, composed by Jenny Walker, is an upbeat, bouncy ragtime solo for early intermediates.

Carrington Rag is a fun ragtime piece for early intermediates by British composer Jo Griffiths. Splash around with syncopation, try out some moderate chromaticism and play with the changes in articulation and dynamics, but most of all, have some fun!

Left Hand Rag, is a fun early intermediate ragtime style piece for the left hand, by British composer Joanne Griffiths. Reminiscent of a Joplin Rag, it is a workout for the left hand with plenty of bass reading and includes syncopation, chromaticism, pattern-based riffs and lots of bass reading.

Harvest Time is a lively, hoe-down style character piece by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick. With a little touch of jazzy flair and its varied sectional form, this piece will delight students and audiences alike!

Horsin’ Around, composed by Ron Levy, is a Western-themed showcase for intermediates. This solo offers a great opportunity to work on articulations and to dynamically highlight the subtle rhythmic variations of the main theme.

Chromo Rag, composed by Lisa Shoemaker, is fast & flashy ragtime solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Musical Mosaics Volume 2 songbook.

Paper Airplane by Sara Tomlinson is an expressive and flowing piece at the late intermediate level. Students will find the chromatic scales and left-hand crossovers fun and impressive. Suitable for students for intermediates of all ages.

Lullaby, composed by Joanne Griffiths, is a lyrical and expressive piece, suitable for an intermediate player. It is based on the primary chords of D major, with the occasional chromatic twist.

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.

Something Wicked This Way Strides is an exuberant, late intermediate solo that evokes the Roaring Twenties. Pianists will not only train their left hand to play typical stride leaps, they’ll also learn a few tricky bits of Chopin’s <em>Etude in A Minor, Op. 10, No. 2</em>, while they’re at it!

Under the Big Top is a fast and flashy, circus-themed showcase duet for advanced level pianists by Canadian composer Lisa Frederick.

Lightsaber Dance, is a fast and flashy minor-key solo for late beginners with a rockin’ teacher duet included. This easy showcase is part of Roadtrip: Space Odyssey songbook by Jennifer Eklund & Kris Skaletski.

This fun ragtime piece, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a playful nod to Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” A perfect early intermediate showcase solo for Halloween, or any time of year!

Voices in the Attic is a spooktacular waltz by Lisa Donovan Lukas for early intermediates. Perfect during the Halloween season and beyond!

Creepy Crawly Icky Things by Rick Robertson is an early intermediate level showcase solo. This piece is especially useful as a “spooky” or “creepy” solo for Halloween recitals, but it could be used in any other non-seasonal program. The “crawly” figures divided between the hand feature chromatic passage and unfamiliar note patterns.

Something’s Knocking at the Door is a spooky early intermediate solo appropriate for inducing nightmares or just for Halloween. Music composed by Stacy Fahrion.

Who doesn’t love a good tarantella? Your early intermediate students will go crazy for this fun and energetic performance piece by composer Lisa Shoemaker. It’s also a great review of chromatic scales!