Cyclone!: Intermediate Piano Book

This collection captures a complete narrative arc without losing sight of what makes intermediate piano engaging. Bober's gift is threading together accessible keyboard writing with vivid imagery, students aren't just playing notes, they're orchestrating a storm, which means they care about phrasing, dynamics, and textural variety.

A musical journey that starts with stillness and builds into turbulent energy before resolving into calm. The writing captures genuine dramatic tension, not melodramatic, but real enough that students feel the shift in weather and can translate that into their playing.

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond single-line melodies and explore pieces that reward expressive playing and dynamic control. This collection works equally well for students preparing for recitals and for teachers seeking material that holds young players' attention through strong imagery.

• Start Cloudy Skies with a lighter touch; the opening sets the atmospheric tone for everything that follows, so resist the urge to rush the early pieces.
• Layer the sound in Thunder Roll by letting the lower register rumble while keeping the upper notes crisp and distinct, creating actual depth rather than muddiness.
• Build Whirling Winds gradually, the momentum should feel inevitable, not forced. Let each phrase breathe slightly before the tempo picks up again.
• End with The Rainbow as a moment of resolution; play it with clarity and warmth to give students a sense of earned completion.

Perfect for a spring recital that tells a story across several pieces, or as a thematic unit within a lesson series on program music and musical imagery. Each piece stands alone, so you can also select individual movements to reinforce specific technical concepts as they arise in your teaching.

• Dynamic contrast and control across a full range of volumes
• Sustaining momentum through repeated figures without mechanical playing
• Responding to programmatic content through intentional phrasing and tempo flexibility
• Hand independence in textures combining melody and accompaniment patterns
• Building musical narrative across multiple connected pieces