Myklas Contest Winners, Book 2: 13 Original Piano Solos from the Myklas Music Press Library: Piano

This collection brings back a trusted resource that shaped generations of festival performers. Each piece balances technical growth with genuine musical satisfaction, so students stay motivated through the grind of contest preparation. The variety of styles and compositional voices means you'll find exactly what your student needs, whether they're building hand independence, exploring pedal technique, or discovering new musical characters.

This collection spans imaginative landscapes: desert journeys, enchanted castles, and mystical autumn nights sit alongside playful pieces like Inspector Snoops and Holiday Parade. The music invites students to paint pictures at the keyboard while building real technical skills, making practice feel less like a checklist and more like exploration.

Students in the late elementary to early intermediate stage who are preparing for festivals, contests, or recitals will find solos that challenge them without overwhelming them. Teachers looking for time-tested pieces that actually stick with students year after year will appreciate the curated selection from decades of classroom and competition success.

• Expand your hands' reach gradually during the first week of practice. Mark the ledger line notes and wider intervals in pencil so you're never surprised by the range.
• Approach the damper pedal exercises methodically. Listen carefully to which notes need to sustain and which need to stop. Change the pedal on the beat, not in the middle of a phrase.
• Lock in the rhythm of eighth-note passages by counting aloud at half-speed before playing. Once the pattern is secure, add the articulation and tempo your teacher requests.
• Record yourself playing the piece weekly. You'll catch inconsistencies in tempo and phrasing that feel right in the moment but sound uneven on playback.

Pull from this collection throughout the year as students grow. A piece like Fanfare Hoedown makes an energetic opening number for a spring recital, while Deserted Castle or Great Pyramid work beautifully as quieter program moments. The variety also makes it easy to match the right piece to each student's hands, learning style, and musical taste.

• Reading above and below the grand staff
• Keyboard mobility and hand position adjustments
• Controlled damper pedal application
• Eighth-note articulation and evenness
• Interval recognition and accuracy
• Musical expression and character interpretation