Solo Xtreme, Book 4: Piano Book

Bober refuses to let early intermediate pianists coast. Each piece targets specific technical challenges (hand position shifts, hand crossing, large voicings, pedal control, articulation variety) while offering genuine musical rewards, so students feel they've accomplished something substantial. The collection spans genuine style diversity, from blues and ragtime to a tarantella and a nocturne, meaning your recital won't sound like one long exercise.

A collection that swings between moods: the galloping energy of riding across plains, the gentle shimmer of water reflected in sunlight, the propulsive syncopation of ragtime, the rippling intensity of a tarantella. Bober writes with both humor and depth, never condescending, always rewarding the effort students put in.

Early intermediate to intermediate pianists who are ready to stop playing it safe. These pieces demand musicianship alongside technical growth, so they suit students who've developed solid fundamentals and are hungry for recital repertoire that feels genuinely challenging.

• Establish hand position landmarks before attempting the hand-crossing passages; mark the staff locations where the shift occurs so students know exactly when and where to move.
• Have students listen to recorded references of the style (especially the ragtime and tarantella) to hear how articulation and tempo work together; this prevents mechanical playing.
• Work the pedal changes separately from the hands until the coordination feels natural; rushing the pedal timing undermines the color effects Bober built in.
• Emphasize the large chord shapes in quick practice; slow practice alone won't build the physical confidence needed to play them accurately at tempo.

Program individual pieces across a recital rather than performing the whole book at once; the stylistic variety lets you pair them effectively with other repertoire or use them as emotional bookends to a program. "Lakeside Tranquility" or "Nocturne" work beautifully as contrasting pieces between more virtuosic selections, while "Ragtime Escapade" or "Trieste Tarantella" provide high-energy finales.

• Hand position shifts and hand crossing at speed
• Playing large chord voicings with accuracy and evenness
• Pedal control for creating color and mood changes
• Articulation variety within single pieces (staccato, legato, detached)
• Reading and performing stylistic conventions (blues, ragtime, folk dance rhythms)
• Building technical endurance through musically engaging material