One of a Kind Solos, Book 3: Piano Book

Rossi's willingness to include genuine musical quirks—odd meters, unusual modes, humorous character work—means students aren't just playing exercises dressed up as pieces. The range across nine titles gives you real programming flexibility; you can pair introspective pieces like "Midnight Snowfall" with energetic barn-raiser material, building a recital that actually holds an audience's attention. Two of the pieces earned Festival selection, which speaks to their depth and playability.

This collection invites you to discover your own voice as a musician rather than follow a preset path. Each piece has a distinct personality, from playful and humorous to introspective and mysterious, creating a sense of musical adventure that keeps practicing fresh and engaging.

Early intermediate pianists ready to move beyond predictable progressions and standard forms will thrive with this book. Students preparing for festival competition or recital performance benefit from pieces that offer real expressive challenges within their technical reach.

• Study the character of each piece before diving into technical details. "Prankster" and "Boogie Bash" demand rhythmic swing and attitude; approaching them metronomically will flatten them. Read the title, the key signature, and the opening phrase as a whole.
• Odd meters and unusual modes show up here. Count carefully in early rehearsals, then let your ear take over. Once the meter feels natural, focus on phrasing rather than defensive counting.
• Exploit the harmonic color in pieces like "Morning Prelude" and "Zingaro Dance." Rossi writes specific harmonic choices; take time to hear how chord changes land and shape your tempo and dynamics accordingly.
• For the variation pieces, keep each variation distinct in character and tempo. "Hero Variations" should feel like a genuine narrative arc, not just the same idea repeated.

Build a recital around contrasting moods by pairing pieces from different moods across the collection. "Midnight Snowfall" works beautifully as a program opener or transition piece between energetic works. For festival season, "Hero Variations" and "Prankster" are both competition-tested and give young performers substantial, rewarding material to prepare.

• Reading and performing in odd meters (3/4, 5/4, and mixed meters)
• Playing in unusual modes and non-diatonic harmonic contexts
• Developing interpretative independence and character work
• Controlling rhythmic swing and articulation for jazz and contemporary idioms
• Executing variation technique and structural awareness
• Pedal control and harmonic listening in coloristic writing