The top most requested piano solos are now here! We have gotten so many requests for certain types and kinds of pieces over the years. And while we still haven’t met all of those requests, we ARE unveiling some of our top most requested solos today! Some of them are even from a genre that we’ve never really had in the ComposeCreate catalog before! Each new series or piece meets a unique need, and will help fill in the gaps that you may have in your stacks. Keep reading to find out about new pieces!
Jazz Shorts
The ComposeCreate shop now has four, early to mid intermediate level jazz pieces! These “Jazz Shorts” are fun to play, pedagogically sound, and will thrill those students wanting to learn jazz. This was one of our most requested types of music!
Zigzaggedy
- Early to mid intermediate
- This happy tune features twists and turns that make it very fun to play!
- Perfect for recitals, talent shows, or festivals, as it’s also very fun to hear.
- Great opportunity for helping students “decode” the patterns so that what looks difficult can be broken down into a series of easier repeating intervallic patterns.
Hoodwinked
- Early to mid intermediate
- Students may not be familiar with “swinging” a piece, which is taken into consideration with how the melody is written
- Great way to teach students how to “swing” (tips for teaching this technique are even given on the product page!)
Diddly-Squat
- Early intermediate
- Main motive uses staccato to imitate the “spring in your step” quality of those who care diddly-squat!
- Hand position doesn’t stray far from the original position, making chromaticism doable
- Gives students a chance to “feel the beat” in their body thanks to repeating patterns and rhythms
Audacious
- Early to mid intermediate
- Falls easily under students’ hands
- Chromatic movement is great opportunity for students to practice seeing music by intervals, not just note namesd.
- Second inversion chords are used in much of the piece, making it easy to digest and move about the keyboard.
One-Handed Pieces by Diane Hidy
One-handed piano solos are something every teacher will need at some point (broken arms, surgeries, sprained fingers, or students with special needs). These three pieces sound full and mature, while being playable and enjoyable for late elementary level students!
Meditation
- Left hand only
- The piece is tossed back and forth between E major and minor, perfectly encapsulating the feelings we experience when meditating on something
- Multiple octaves are played, making the piece sound bigger than a typical one-handed solo
- Falls easily under the left hand
Fanfare
- Late elementary
- Right hand only
- Triumphant and celebratory while staying away from the trope of sounding overtly joyous
- Mature sound thanks to cluster notes in first motif
Wishes
- Late elementary
- Right hand only
- Full sound and beautiful melody that students and audiences will connect with
- Jumps between octaves feel natural, fingerings fall intuitively under the hands
- Written in f minor, which is a naturally comfortable position for the right hand
Adventures of Little Fuzzies
Students loved the original Little Fuzzies piece so much, they began suggesting their own adventures! Wendy used these hilarious story suggestions as inspiration for an entirely new series that’s all about the lives of Little Fuzzies (here’s the original Little Fuzzies piece). Students will adore these silly, clever pieces!
Kitchen Raiders
- Early to mid elementary
- Silly lyrics all about the midnight cravings of Little Fuzzies!
- Some chromaticism that falls naturally under the fingers
- Fifth finger is never used, making it easier for beginners
Bubble Bath
- Early to mid elementary
- In this piece, the Little Fuzzies have gotten the piano keys all wet thanks to their bubble bath – and the student practicing keeps missing notes thanks to the slippery keys!
- Staccatos and cluster notes sound like bubbles popping in the tub
- Whenever hand position changes, it is denoted with circled numbers so students know they’re moving to a new position
Playin’ Around
- Early to mid elementary
- The Little Fuzzie “helpers” cause quite a commotion in this silly piece – it will draw students right in!
- Whenever hand position changes, the same fingering is used in the new position
- The end of the piece features a lot of dynamic contrast, making it wonderful practice for students to connect with storytelling
Fuzzies on Vacation
- Early to mid elementary
- “Beach Boys” reminiscent harmonies and chromaticism
- When a hand position change occurs, it is only ever shifting by one note
- All intervals are the same as the previous hand position when a new hand position takes place
Piano Solos
There are two new solos that have been released in addition to the new series – Stepping Out of the Current, and Tangy Tango. Tangy Tango has been requested by numerous teachers through the years. Previously published by Hal Leonard, it is now available as a studio-licensed piece (rather than single-use license) through ComposeCreate!
And we are always receiving requests for more late intermediate music for both students and teachers. Stepping Out of the Current is an Intermediate/Late intermediate solo that is reminiscent of Liszt, so students and teachers will love how accessible it is.
Tangy Tango
- Elementary level
- Includes teacher duet
- Only half and quarter notes are used
- Both hands stay in the same position throughout the piece, making it a favorite for recitals and festivals so that students don’t need to fear hand position changes during a performance
Stepping Out of the Current
- Intermediate to Late intermediate
- Sounds complex, but falls comfortably under the hands and uses repeated patterns
- Reminiscent of Liszt
- Emotional piece that students will want to play for talent shows or recitals
Different Seasons? Different Issues?
Are you looking for more piano solos for a specific season? Do you need music that can help solve specific student problems? Our new Student Solutions Catalog is a FREE, 88-page resource designed to help teachers find music they need – quickly and easily! Find out how to use it and download here.
