Competition Solos, Book 3 Piano Accompaniment: Piano Book

A collection rooted in character pieces and light classical style. You'll find spirited polkas, lyrical country scenes, waltzes that breathe, and capricios that dance. The writing sits comfortably under the fingers and allows both soloist and accompanist to make music without technical struggles getting in the way.

Piano teachers and accompanists who work with instrumentalists preparing for state and regional competitions. If you teach private lessons across multiple instruments or play for a school's competition program, this book consolidates seven tested solos into one practical resource.

• Study the audio download before the first rehearsal with your student. This gives you a sense of tempo, character, and balance so you can shape the accompaniment intentionally rather than reactively.
• Verify the specific piece against your state's current competition list before committing to study time. State lists change, and a piece approved last year may not be on this year's roster.
• Balance the accompaniment texture to support, not overshadow, the soloist. These pieces are designed for the melody to speak clearly, so resist the urge to fill every measure with full harmony.

Draw from this book as your primary competition repertoire source for the academic year. Assign pieces individually based on student level and instrument, then use the accompanying audio to stay aligned on interpretation. If you're coaching multiple students headed to the same competition, having these pieces in one book makes scheduling and group coaching sessions more efficient.

• Playing at competition tempo without rushing or dragging
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a two-part ensemble
• Interpreting character pieces across varied styles (waltz, polka, lyrical, rhythmic)
• Responding to a live accompanist and adjusting dynamics in real time
• Managing performance anxiety in a supported solo context