Robert D. Vandall's Favorite Solos, Book 3: Piano Book

Vandall knows exactly what intermediate pianists need to hear and play. The variety here is striking: blues grooves sit alongside impressionistic textures, rhythmic explorations next to lyrical writing. Your students will encounter genuine musical ideas packaged at a level where they can execute them cleanly, which means they'll actually feel accomplished rather than frustrated.

Opening this book, you'll encounter ten distinct musical worlds. Some pieces groove with contemporary rhythmic energy; others settle into introspective, impressionistic moods. The writing feels personal and considered, as if Vandall selected these pieces specifically because they reveal something true about what intermediate pianists can accomplish when given music worth playing.

This collection serves intermediate to late intermediate pianists ready for more sophisticated musical ideas without unreasonable technical demands. It works equally well for students preparing for competitions, building a recital program, or simply wanting music that feels current and engaging rather than purely classical or dated.

• Let the jazz-influenced pieces (Blues à la Mode, Boogie Blast, Rock Improvisation) breathe with a relaxed groove. Precise rhythmic placement matters more than metronomic perfection; encourage students to listen to how real musicians lay back or push ahead slightly.
• The more lyrical pieces (Consolation, Lydian Nocturne) benefit from careful pedal work. Have students experiment with color changes rather than simply holding the sustain pedal throughout entire phrases.
• Approach the faster, technical passages (Flying Fingers, Shimmers) by isolating hands separately first, then building coordination slowly. These pieces reward evenness and clarity more than raw speed.
• Timeline Adventure and Dream Catcher suggest narrative or impressionistic images. Invite students to think about the story or mood they're creating rather than just playing notes.

Sprinkle these across recitals or studio showcases. Pair them with classical sonata movements or baroque inventions to show your students' range. The stylistic variety also makes this collection ideal for students building diverse competition programs, where switching between blues grooves and nocturnes demonstrates musical versatility.

• Jazz-influenced rhythmic vocabulary and swing feel
• Pedal control for textural and harmonic color
• Melodic phrasing across both hands with varied voicings
• Sight-reading through contemporary and modal harmonies
• Finger independence and control in scalar passages and broken figures