A Splash of Color, Book 2: Piano Book

Alexander writes intermediate solos that feel genuinely creative rather than like exercises. These five pieces prove that colorful imagery and sophisticated musical ideas belong in teaching repertoire; each title sparks genuine curiosity and invites students to bring their own interpretations to the keyboard.

These solos balance accessibility with sophistication. The writing feels conversational and expressive rather than showy, inviting players to discover their own voice within Alexander's framework. Colors shift and textures surprise; every piece rewards close listening and thoughtful practice.

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond technical studies and explore pieces with genuine artistic intent. Teenagers especially will connect with the visual themes and find motivation in music that challenges them to think imaginatively while playing.

• Let the color evoked by each title guide your touch and tone. A piece called 'Dark Caramel' demands a warmer, richer sound than 'Turquoise'; experiment with how pedal and dynamics create these visual atmospheres.
• Work through the dramatic and textural contrasts within each solo. Alexander builds interest through variety, so identify where the character shifts and shape your phrasing accordingly.
• Play through all five pieces to understand how they relate thematically. This collection works best when students experience the full arc of imagery and see how different musical ideas can spring from a single compositional vision.

Program one or more of these solos in student recitals to showcase intermediate pianists with repertoire that stands up to scrutiny. The evocative titles also make excellent concert program notes that help audiences understand what students are interpreting.

• translating imagery into musical interpretation
• tone color control through pedal and dynamic shaping
• building musical narrative within a single piece
• understanding intermediate harmonic language and phrasing across multiple styles