One of a Kind Solos, Book 2: Piano Book

This collection refuses to play it safe. Each piece has genuine personality and stands alone musically, which means your students will stay engaged and actually want to practice these solos. The stylistic range also gives you real programming flexibility—you can sequence them by mood, key, or learning goal rather than all sounding like variations on the same idea.

Opening this book is like finding a playlist curated specifically for you. One moment you're playing something irreverent and bouncy; the next you're navigating atmospheric harmonies or unfolding a narrative arc. The pieces invite you to bring your own character to the music rather than simply executing someone else's predetermined expression.

Late elementary pianists ready to move beyond generic etudes and discover that contemporary music written for their level can be genuinely interesting. This collection works for students who respond well to variety and want recital pieces with personality, whether they're preparing for festivals, studio recitals, or informal performances.

• Notice the odd meters and rhythmic shifts in pieces like "A Wild Chase" and "Marathon!"—isolate these passages in slow practice first, then gradually build tempo to maintain accuracy when the excitement kicks in.
• Explore the harmonic character of "Peace Sign" and "Castle in the Air" before diving into the notes; understanding the chord progressions and modal flavor will shape your interpretative choices.
• Approach the humorous elements in "Bold Attitude" and "Labradoodle" with commitment rather than irony; these pieces sing when you play them as music, not as jokes.
• Let the descriptive titles anchor your imagination. "Swirling Leaves" and "Brazilian Beach" offer visual and kinetic cues for tempo, dynamics, and touch that the notation alone doesn't spell out.

Structure a recital around contrasting moods by pairing pieces from this collection—follow the contemplative "Castle in the Air" with the propulsive energy of "A Wild Chase," then close with the playfulness of "Bold Attitude." You could also assign different pieces to students across your studio at the same level and build a group recital where each student has solo responsibility for their own character piece.

• Reading and performing odd meters and mixed-meter passages
• Playing modal and non-diatonic harmonies with secure hand position
• Interpreting stylistic and expressive markings that go beyond standard tempo indications
• Developing rhythmic independence and accuracy at moderate tempos with syncopation and unexpected accent patterns
• Building musical narrative and storytelling through phrasing and dynamic shaping