Favorite Elementary-Level Sheet Music Piano Solos

This is the second of three posts highlighting some of my favorite sheet music piano solos for students.

These favorites lists are the result of a year-long focus in my studio, exploring the wide range of sheet music solos in publication. Check out this post if you want to read about the nine things I learned from that project.

Since I have quite a few to mention, I divided the list into three posts. Today I’ll be sharing favorite pieces at the Early Elementary, Elementary, and Late Elementary levels, including the reason I love them and a link where you can purchase them.

The first post featured Halloween-themed music, and the third will feature Early Intermediate, Intermediate, and Later Intermediate pieces.


Please note I am an affiliate in the Sheet Music Plus Easy Rebates program which simply means if you purchase any of these pieces using the links I provide, I will get a small percentage back without it costing you any extra.


Early Elementary

Dancing Drums by Joyce Grill

Why I love it: It’s in Aeolian (Natural Minor) tonality and has a really catchy beat.

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

 

I Like Bananas by Julie Knerr

Why I love it: A fun and silly piece that helps beginning students explore the range of the piano.

Buy it at PianoSafari.com

I Love Coffee from Piano Safari

Why I love it: A rote solo piece, I Love Coffee, is a theme with six variations. There is a multitude of fun ways to use this piece, both as a student solo and even in a small group.

Buy it at PianoSafari.com

 

In My Dreams By Jennifer Linn

Why I love it: It has a beautiful melody that seems to play around the tonic to start, then moves into a lovely contrasting B section.

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

Start Your Engines by Kevin Olson

Why I love it: Most early elementary pieces are catered to young children, but this one appeals to older students. I even had a 14-year-old boy who played and loved this piece.

It includes a B section where the student works on slowly accelerating (like a car) until the final three measures, where they play “as fast as they can,” culminating in a note cluster “crash” of the car.

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

Elementary

Creepy Creaky Sounds by Martha Mier

Why I love it: Everyone loves to play fast, but this piece gives students a good reason to play slowly! 🙂

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

 

The Mysterious Forest by Carolyn Setliff

Why I love it: This piece has a nice triple-meter feel and is in A harmonic minor tonality, playing around just enough in the B section to keep it interesting.

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

Rainbow Colors by Julie Knerr

Why I love it: This piece uses a melodic 5th pattern and hand-crossings to create a lovely yet simple piece that students love.

Scary Shadows by Melody Bober

Why I love it: It incorporates the LH crossing over the RH in places and has a nice teacher duet.

Buy it at Sheet Music Plus

Up Sandy Ripple Road Wendy Stevens

Why I love it: Every student who has ever played this piece loves it. I even had a student once who could still play it by memory a year later – she loved it that much. It has a lovely melody.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

Late Elementary

Autumn Moon by Ted Cooper

Why I love it: Gently flowing melody with a little hand crossing and octave exploration.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

Castle Days by Kathleen Massoud

Why I love it: It’s in the key of Em and uses a left-hand pattern that moves down by a step every measure but is simple.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

Fire Dance by David Karp

Why I love it: The Vivace tempo truly makes it feel like it’s on “fire,” which, of course, kids LOVE.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

Medieval Tournament by Mike Springer

Why I love it: Kids absolutely love anything that sounds bold, victorious, or bombastic. Generally, that means anything with fire, castle, medieval, or pirate themes are winners. LOL

This piece uses a simple harmonic 5th accompaniment, making it an “eas(ier) but still cool and exciting-sounding” piece.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

The Knight’s Tale by Catherine Rollin

Why I love it: The very same reasons I love the “Medieval Tournament” piece listed above! 🙂

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

The Victorious Knight by Scott Price

Why I love it: Ditto on the once again “bold and victorious-sounding.”

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

Touch a Rainbow by Dennis Alexander

Why I love it: It uses a couple of different LH accompaniment patterns that feature 7th-chord harmonies making for a beautiful piece.

Buy it on Sheet Music Plus

 

5 Responses

  1. I have a few of these, but there are several I have not heard of! My students love taking home “sheets.” Something about it makes it feel more special than their method books. Thanks for the recommendations! I am excited to check these out!

  2. Thank you so much! I wasn’t familiar with any of these and have added them to my music list on sheetmusicplus. Thank you for the recommendations!

  3. Thank you so much for these suggestions. My students absolutely love playing lyrical pieces so your suggestions really helped me find some new pieces for them to try!

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