For intermediate students, Desert Shadows offers a sophisticated sound they are sure to enjoy. This piece features artistic jazz-like harmonies, rhythmic play between the hands, and many opportunities for working with singing melody and legato pedal.
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Kevin Olson is a composer and educator whose work spans concert music, educational repertoire, and film scoring. His compositions for piano students demonstrate a gift for balancing contemporary harmonic language with technical accessibility, allowing young musicians to explore modern sounds without sacrificing musicality.
Why we love this
Olson captures that sweet spot where intermediate pianists can sound genuinely sophisticated without drowning in technical complexity. The jazz-like harmonies give students real harmonic language to explore, and the interplay between the hands keeps both sides of the brain engaged without becoming a circus act.
What to expect
Evocative and unhurried, like watching light shift across desert rock at dusk. The piece balances thoughtful, singing melody against subtle harmonic movement, creating a mood that feels modern yet timeless. There's room to breathe and space to discover new colors in the accompaniment each time through.
Who it's for
Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond purely classical or folk-based repertoire and into more contemporary harmonic territory. Students who respond well to accessible jazz vocabulary and want to develop their ear for color and texture.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the singing melody with consistent tone and phrase direction; let the jazz harmonies support without overwhelming the line.
Experiment with pedal entry and release to blur the harmonies intentionally. Listen closely to catch muddy moments, then adjust the timing of your foot.
Balance the rhythmic play between hands by practicing them separately first. Once secure, bring them together and let one hand breathe while the other moves.
Take time with rubato in the lyrical passages. This piece rewards expressive freedom, especially when the rhythm settles into longer note values.
How to use it
Perfect as a standalone recital piece for a student showcasing growth into more sophisticated repertoire, or as part of a set exploring contemporary piano writing. Its reflective character pairs well with classical or impressionistic pieces on the same program.
Skills your students will build
Controlling pedal for blur and clarity in jazz harmonies
Balancing and coordinating independent rhythmic figures between hands
Singing through melody while maintaining harmonic awareness
Interpreting and shaping rubato in a contemporary context
Reading and responding to jazz-influenced harmonic vocabulary
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