Rhapsodies and Reveries: Volume Two

This combo deal includes Chrissy Ricker’s “Rhapsodies and Reveries” and “Rhapsodies and Reveries: Volume 2” songbooks. These books are appropriate for early intermediate and intermediates.

This mega combo deal includes Chrissy Ricker’s “Easy Rhapsodies and Reveries,” “Rhapsodies and Reveries” and “Rhapsodies and Reveries: Volume 2” songbooks. These books are appropriate for late beginners through intermediates.

Winds of Change is a collection of twelve showcase solos composed by Ryan Chesser. These showcase solos are ideal for intermediates of all ages.

June is a dramatic solo for later intermediate pianists. The mysterious setting evokes the mood of a summer storm with tumultuous wind. Crashing pops of lightning punctuate the primary theme while arpeggiated flourishes mimic the downpour of sudden rain. This is one of a set of 12 month-titled pieces by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM.

In the Groove is a fun-filled collection of thirteen showcase solos composed by Lisa Frederick. Ideally suited for early intermediates and beyond, these engaging pieces cover a wide variety of genres including jazz, blues, lyrical, boogie-woogie, and more!

The Magical Garden, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, is a flashy lyrical solo for early intermediates and beyond. This piece is part of the Star City Solos songbook.

Kaleidoscope Volume 2 is an evocative collection of lyrical showcase solos composed by Rick Robertson. These elegant solos will allow advancing early intermediates to work on musicality and expressive playing via works that are stage-ready and appropriate for all age groups.

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.

Signs of the Time is a collection of twelve contemporary solos for intermediates by Lisa Donovan Lukas based on the astrological signs of the zodiac. Each piece includes a description of personality traits unique to each sign. So, what’s your sign?

Set Sail is a collection of eleven, showcase style solos for intermediates composed by Amanda W. Smith. With a balanced mix of flashy and lyrical selections, this songbook will be a favorite with students of all ages!

The Knight’s Quest, composed by Amanda W. Smith, is a flashy showcase solo for intermediate pianists of any age. This piece is part of the Set Sail songbook.

Mood Swings is an evocative collection of twelve character pieces composed by Jenny Walker. These contemporary solos for late-intermediate and advanced pianists provide a delightful landscape of harmonies and contemporary stylings that span a variety of genres.

August is a new age piano solo, composed by Sarah Reaser O’Brien NCTM, for intermediate and late intermediate pianists. The pedagogical focus of this selection is small hand accessibility. The waltz-time setting and straight eighths are ideal for helping players achieve a fluid technique and a sense of forward motion. The melodic content is “hidden” within the right hand eighths and gives ample opportunity for developing sophisticated voicing.

Magnetic Forces (Scorpio) is a fast and flashy solo for intermediates composed by Lisa Donovan Lukas. This piece is part of the astrology-inspired songbook “Signs of the Time.”

Toccata Staccata, composed by Rick Robertson is an intermediate level showcase solo. Its staccato parallel chords with a hint of Latin flavor give the advancing performer an exciting showpiece.

Circle of Friends, by Rick Robertson, is a two-volume collection containing a total of 24 character pieces for piano in each of the major and minor keys (minus enharmonic equivalents), in a manner similar to the Prelude sets by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and the like. The sequence as published is arranged in a rough order of difficulty, allowing for convenience in page turns here and there.

The title alludes as well to the familiar “Circle of Keys’. As for “friends”, each piece is dedicated to a close friend, colleague, or student. A few pieces in Volume One are at the early intermediate level, while Volume Two is solidly at the intermediate level with a steady trajectory of more demanding musical concepts.

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

October is an intermediate new age piece by Sarah Reaser O’Brien, NCTM. The constantly moving triplet figures in both hands are meant to evoke the swirling motion of colorful autumn leaves blowing about in the breeze. Rather than centering on a traditional melodic line, October allows students to create a mood or effect by experimenting with dynamic inflection and rubato to vary each performance. Dynamic indications in the score are merely suggestions – performers are meant to make this free-flowing piece their own.