Shifting meters

A flashy intermediate solo in 7/8 time based on This Old Man composed by Stacy Fahrion.

Mystery and uncertainty are just around the corner with this minor key solo by Ryan Chesser. This piece is great for teaching artistic expression and balance between hands. Your moody teenage students will love this expressive showcase solo!

Falling Slowly is a whimsically macabre lyrical solo composed by Stacy Fahrion. This solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages and is part of the These Are Odd Times songbook.

This is a twinkly little whimsical piece in which composer Stacy Fahrion combines Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Row Row Row Your Boat. This whimsically macabre showcase solo will delight intermediates of all ages!

Chopin Medley features an iconic Etude and Nocturne theme arranged for early intermediates by Jennifer Eklund and is part of Piano Pronto: Movement 3. Includes a teacher duet part.

Dance Medley from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet, including the Russian, Arabian, and Chinese Dances, arranged for intermediates, by Lisa Donovan Lukas.

Lucky, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a smooth jazzy solo for late beginners that serves as a great introduction to syncopated rhythms. This piece is part of the Easy Cool Cats songbook.

Summer Stars, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is an enchanting lyrical solo for early intermediates. This piece is part of the Rhapsodies and Reveries songbook.

Lopsided Waltz is a contemporary solo for early intermediates composed by Ron Levy. This piece is a great introduction to shifting meters and dotted “catch” rhythms.

Twisted, composed by Lisa Shoemaker, is fast & flashy showcase solo for early intermediates with shifting meters. This piece is part of the More Musical Mosaics songbook.

Zorro is a lively Spanish-style showcase solo composed by Sara Tomlinson. This early intermediate piece will make for an exciting solo at your next recital!

Shine, composed by Chrissy Ricker, is a lyrical pop ballad for intermediates. This piece is part of the Rock On! Volume 2 songbook.

Celebration is an energetic showcase solo composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas that will delight intermediates of all ages. This piece is part of the Journeys songbook.

Space Waltz, composed by Ron Levy, is a delightful showcase solo for intermediates. This cinematic-style solo will serve as a great performance piece for recitals.

Waiting Is…, composed by Ron Levy, is an elegant lyrical solo for intermediate and beyond. This peaceful solo serves as a great exercise for players to explore rubato and lyrical phrasing.

Come Away, composed by Ron Levy, is a Renaissance-style solo for intermediates, inspired by 16th-century lute music. This is a piano solo adaptation from incidental music he composed for a theatrical production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

Winds of Change, composed by Ryan Chesser, is an elegant lyrical solo for intermediates. This selection is part of the Winds of Change songbook.

Longing for Spring, composed by Sara Tomlinson, is an elegant lyrical solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Creation Collage songbook.

Metamorphosis, composed by Sara Tomlinson, is an elegant lyrical solo for intermediates. This piece is part of the Creation Collage songbook.

Imagination is an upbeat, lyrical solo by Sara Tomlinson. The opening features contrary motion between the hands, followed by lyrical and driving sections. If you or your student enjoy music with life and movement, this piece is for you!

I Need Thee Every Hour, in an elegant setting, arranged by Kevin Costley. This solo is ideal for intermediates of all ages.

Lamentations is suite of solos composed by Joanne Griffiths for intermediate players to explore time signature changes, comparisons between simple and compound time, minimalism, and mostly how to express mood and emotion. Breathe is a peaceful, calming minimalist piece pushing the boundaries of 3/4 time and crossing it with more than a suggestion of 6/8. For Carolyn is an uplifting piece with lilting, contrasting themes, in Rondo form. Finally, Sorrow is an expression of grief, with a “bell tolling” theme throughout. It is also minimalist, centered around A minor and changing from 3 to 4 beats in the bar and covering several octaves of the piano.

Something Else, by British composer Joanne Griffiths, has a gently meandering melody over an accompaniment of two patterns, two chords and two time signatures. A little quirky lilt changing from 3/4 to 4/4 time will keep your students counting.

First Flower, composed by Ron Levy, is a meditative solo for intermediates, full of lush harmonies and a great exercise to introduce students to shifting meters and rubato. Cover photography from Back Bay, Newport Beach by Ron Levy.