Pentascales

January is a high-energy showcase solo with an uplifting principle theme, dramatic middle section, and flashy ending. This is one of a set of 12 month-titled pieces by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM.

Wellerman, a traditional 19th-century sea shanty from New Zealand, arranged for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund. Includes two versions to aide students in the learning process.

Sailing is an easy solo for beginners based in a five-finger position with lush teacher duet included. Music by Barbara Becker.

The Long Way Home is an easy pop ballad in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Let It Linger is an easy minor-key lyrical solo for late-beginners that is part of Jennifer Eklund’s Pronto Pizazz Volume 2 collection. This short study focuses on shifting pentacle positions in parallel fifths and crossovers, and includes a lush teacher accompaniment.

Swing ’n’ Sway in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Let’s Rock is an upbeat rock tune in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Out of the Blue is an easy minor-key lyrical ballad in lead sheet format that also includes structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Stacy Fahrion wrote Nice Tardigrade so that beginner pianists can enjoy playing polyrhythms and playing in Dorian mode. “Nice tardigrade” is a mnemonic phrase like “hot cup of tea” or “not difficult” that may help pianists remember the sound of a three against two polyrhythm. Tardigrades are resilient microscopic creatures that look like tiny bears. They have existed on Earth for about 600 million years.

Yee-Haw!, composed by Rick Robertson, is an early-intermediate-level showcase solo. It is inspired by “barn dance” or “square dance” music, and adds a touch of Americana to any recital program. It is a definite pupil saver and motivator and could also be used in “costume recitals” when a spooky costume is not desired.

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.

Distant Bells is an elegant polyrhythmic etude for early intermediates composed by Stacy Fahrion. This piece serves as an excellent introduction to playing two against three between the hands.

This is a lyrical piano ballad in waltz time for intermediate pianists by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM. The melody is made almost entirely of ascending and descending pentascales (5-note scales) on white keys. The accompaniment for left hand requires a hand span primarily of melodic octaves with an occasional melodic tenth. The ternary form features a middle section with surprising harmonies and a deceptive cadence. Middle and high school students will find this piece both accessible and rewarding.

Easy latin duet for beginners and a teacher or intermediate player with a solo improv section included. Music composed by Jennifer Eklund. This piece is part of the Pronto Pizazz songbook.

Black Cat Boogie, composed by Rick Robertson, is an early-intermediate jazzy showcase solo in a Boogie-Woogie style. It is very effective in performance, and should be a hit on any recital program. It is purposefully written in G-flat major, and uses black-key pentatonic melodies.