Audience Pleasers, Book 3: Piano Book

This collection draws from Olson's most enduring pieces, and it shows. Intermediate and early advanced pianists find themselves with material that sounds far more sophisticated than it plays, offering the confidence boost that comes from making genuinely beautiful music. The variety across the book keeps students engaged across a full season of repertoire.

Olson's writing combines straightforward accessibility with genuine warmth. The music avoids sentimentality while remaining emotionally direct, offering pianists the satisfaction of playing something that feels both modern enough to engage contemporary listeners and timeless enough to have pleased students for generations.

Intermediate and early advanced pianists ready to build a program of appealing solo material, and teachers seeking pieces that maintain genuine artistic merit while remaining technically accessible. This book also serves pianists preparing for festival performances or recitals where musical substance and audience appeal are equally important.

• Listen for the shape of each phrase and plan your pedaling around phrase boundaries rather than harmonic changes. Olson's textures often benefit from judicious pedal work that honors the melodic line.
• Pay attention to dynamic markings even when they appear subtle. Olson uses dynamic shaping to create sophistication and direction, particularly in his more lyrical passages.
• Practice the piece hands separately until you fully inhabit the character of both lines. Olson's melodies often sing most effectively when the accompaniment is secure and doesn't compete for attention.

Pull individual pieces as recital selections throughout the year, or program several pieces from this collection in a single concert to showcase a student's growing facility at the intermediate level. The variety makes it equally useful as repertoire for festival seasons (this volume is a Federation Festivals 2024-2028 selection) and as material for building a strong home practice routine.

• Phrasing and musical shaping at moderate tempos
• Voice leading and balance between melody and accompaniment
• Pedal technique and control
• Interpretation of dynamic nuance
• Confidence in memorization and performance of substantial solo material