G-flat major

Beauty in simplicity is the key to this arrangement of a traditional German carol: one that doesn’t turn up often on Christmas programs. This arrangement by Rick Robertson for intermediates is part of the Christmas Memories songbook.

Up in the Air is an upbeat solo for very early beginners of all ages that includes a teacher duet. This piece can be taught by note, rote, or finger number and features bass clef notation and the use of a group of three black keys with the left hand. Part of the Rising Starz Volume 1 songbook.

Enchanted Garden is a sparkling, contemplative showcase solo for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This piece is a gentle way to introduce the key of G-flat major, can easily be taught by rote, and provides an opportunity to work on rubato with students in the early stages of lessons.

Misty Rain, composed by Rick Robertson, is an early intermediate level solo in a neo-Romantic lyrical style. It is very effective in performance, and makes an excellent repertoire choice for a developing pianist.

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.

Mountain Rainstorm depicts a storm that rushes in quickly and then gracefully recedes into the mountainscape as swiftly as it arrived, something that happens frequently in the afternoons in the Rocky Mountains. This lively post-minimal piece features broken octaves in the left hand that only happen on black keys. It begins in E-flat Dorian and ends in G-flat major. The time signature regularly alternates between two measures of 6/8 with two measures of 7/8, but the composite rhythm between the hands is simply steady eighth notes.

Debussy’s Girl with the Flaxen Hair arranged for intermediates that retains the original key but simplifies many of the large stretches . Part of the Piano Pronto: Encore method book.

Amazing Grace, by Rick Robertson, is an early-advanced level arrangement of the beloved American hymn tune. It is useful for recital or worship use.

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.