Lyric Moments, Book 2: Piano Book

Rollin's gift for melody shines throughout this collection. Each piece in Book 2 stands on its own musical merit while remaining genuinely playable at the intermediate level, which means your students won't feel they're reading simplified versions of "real" music. The inclusion of "Love Theme" on the ABRSM 2025-2026 Piano Syllabus adds both validation and natural motivation for students preparing for exams.

These pieces breathe with genuine emotion. Titles like "First Loss" and "Lament" hint at the depth of feeling Rollin captures without veering into technical display. The writing feels intimate, as though each composition invites the performer to find their own emotional truth within the notes.

This collection suits intermediate pianists who are developing expressive maturity and seeking rewarding repertoire that rewards musical sensitivity. Students preparing for ABRSM or other exam syllabi will find valuable material here, particularly those drawn to lyrical, song-like writing.

• Approach the phrasing as if singing through the keyboard. Breathe between phrases even though you have no voice, and shape the melodic line with dynamic nuance rather than simply hitting notes at consistent volume.
• Explore the pedal carefully in each piece to understand how it supports the harmonic language without muddying the texture. Intermediate students often rush pedal changes; work them gradually into the practice routine.
• Balance the melody with the accompaniment by listening for register and weight. In these lyrical pieces, transparent accompaniment figures enhance rather than overshadow the singing line.
• Practice hands separately first to internalize the emotional arc of each piece, then combine them with attention to how the accompanimental patterns support the melody's emotional trajectory.

These eight pieces work beautifully as a recital program, either performed in their entirety or selected strategically alongside works by other composers. "Love Theme" naturally fits into exam preparation for ABRSM candidates; the remaining pieces offer flexibility for student recitals, pedagogy showcases, or programming where emotional authenticity matters more than flashy technique.

• Shaping lyrical phrases with dynamic control and awareness of melodic contour
• Pedal technique in service of harmonic color and resonance
• Balance between melody and accompaniment across different hand positions and registers
• Expressive interpretation grounded in song-like writing
• Sight-reading fluency at the intermediate level through eight varied contexts