I need a summer project! I was thinking about Prelude in C Major, but I need something more cheerful than that

Can anybody help me? I am looking for a 2 grade-ish piece, I can more or less easily handle "Happy Farmer", but I am looking for something longer, and perhaps more "mature" if I can say that.

I've been looking through some graded repertoire, but the pieces I could watch in YouTube weren't really catchy in my ears. For the rest, I don't know them/don't have easy access to sheet music.

I'd really love to learn a rag, but I'm not sure if I can handle it after seven months of playing. But something jazzy or bluesy would be great! Thank you

If you are willing to look at something a little off the beaten path, you might check out Robert Starer's Sketches in Color (Set 1). This is a suite of 7 short pieces that incorporate a number of modern elements, including some happy jazzy syncopation (see especially "Bright Orange"). There is a brief bitonal piece (where the left hand is in a different key than the right) and even a simple 12-tone piece to introduce students to that technique.

I don't know what grade these would be and how they would fit with your current level, but they are student pieces.

The Jazz, Rags, & Blues series by Martha Mier is excellent. Very good summer reading, not too hard, fun to play and listen to.

If you want something classical, how about Mechanical Doll by Shostakovich. I'm polishing it right now. It's about the same level as Happy Farmer.

If you want some short pieces that are in all different styles, Piano Miniatures by Victor Labenske is cool. A lot of the ones I've played in this book are pretty cheeful. Pay no attention to the fact that there is one in every key.

I love the Robert D Vandall Preludes. The first book (or numbers 1 - 7 in the complete book) would probably be about at your level. They are all very new ageish. If you look for recordings I've posted in the piano bars, you will probably find a few of these. Just like the one above, having one in every key that is **FUN** to play is a great way to take your "musical vitamins."

I've heard someone play some pieces out of Martha Meier's Romantic Impressions. She also has another series in the same line called Romantic Sketches.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Rich

Take a look at "music box dancer." It may be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7rUgIT4KyM

Take a listen to this one...keeping it basic, it's probably do-able too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMXOLX22uQ

good luck.

I discovered this publisher Acanthus when they put an advertising insert in "Pianist" magazine. I have one of Daniel Hellbach's solo collections, one of his duet collections, and the "Pop Concerto". The duet collection and the Pop Concerto both come with play-along CDs. The music is upbeat and interesting. I'd also look at Hans Zellweger's Pop Feelings collections. (Anyone who writes a piece called "Dance of the Wilted Carnation" has to be worth investigating!) They have a couple of sample pages for each book so that you can get some idea of what you're getting. Don't be misled by the screen appearance of the samples, these are very high quality books.

Thank you so much for your suggestions Amazing videos! I don't think I'm that good )

I'll also take a look at the books you recommend, now I've got a lot of ideas thanks to you!

Best,

Elena.