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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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! 🙂
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.
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.
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.
Late Elementary
Autumn Moon by Ted Cooper
Why I love it: Gently flowing melody with a little hand crossing and octave exploration.
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.
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.
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.
The Knight’s Tale by Catherine Rollin
Why I love it: The very same reasons I love the “Medieval Tournament” piece listed above! 🙂
The Victorious Knight by Scott Price
Why I love it: Ditto on the once again “bold and victorious-sounding.”
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.
5 Responses
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!
I agree. The individual sheet can feel less overwhelming than a whole book of a dozen or more pieces.
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!
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!
Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear this was helpful, Christina!