For Piano Teachers
A while back, I was advised by a local pianist and music educator to write a short verbal description for each piece in order to give students a head start in understanding what the music is about. These descriptions are necessarily vague and subject to broad interpretation, but I provide them here. Also provided are some notes to piano teachers in which I try to indicate what technical skills students might develop by learning to play these pieces. Most of these compositions are for more advanced students, but a few are relatively straightforward. Although some would be too long for any competitions, approximate levels using MMTA designations are given as a guide.
Punchinello
A little clown gets carried away with his own antics and revs up until he crashes. A little bird comes to help him out.
Level - Senior A
Technical Skills - Detailed finger work.
Jazz Hands
A night of jazz in a big city basement club. The next day, a breezy afternoon on the avenue, then another night of cool music and dim lighting. The bass fiddle knows just when to come in.
Level- Intermediate B
Technical Skills - Not too technically difficult, but has some rhythmic complexity.
The Grasshopper
This is a piece for children. Simple and hoppy. I wrote this one when I was twelve and decided to record it so others could hear it in case they wanted to teach it.
Level- Junior B
Technical Skills - Easy, but has some good practice for right hand skips. Can be played across a wide range of tempos.
Bedtime for a Microprocessor
The baby microprocessor won't go to sleep. The grownup does its best to initiate shut down without an outright ctrl-alt-del. After some back and forth, the baby microprocessor is finally in sleep mode.
Level - Senior A
Technical Skills - The main melody line is produced by alternating hands working together. This is a chance to inject some humor into a performance.
Reminiscence
Gothic columns surround a brightly lit courtyard. The peace and quiet stirs remembrances of times past.
Level- Senior A
Technical Skills - Challenging in spots, but not necessarily related to any one particular skill. Sound balance is a good lesson here.
The Butterfly
A butterfly flits from flower to flower. Maybe it's being chased by a kitten.
Level - Senior B
Technical Skills - This piece requires precise finger work, but can be taken at a variety of tempos depending on abilities.
Night of the Mountain Trolls
Gremlin-like creatures dance and play around a bonfire in a mountain clearing at night. The flickering fire illuminates only part of their mischief.
Level- Senior B
Technical Skills - Some shifting time signatures, left hand melody played against a right hand accompaniment in the middle section.
Daydreams
This piece reminds me of a quiet spring or summer walk in the park, perhaps on a wooded path around a lake.
Level- Intermediate B
Technical Skills - Technically easy, but requires some real musicianship. There are a few chords that may not work for small hands, but some notes here or there could be omitted if that's what it takes to play the piece.
Moonlight Ritual
Sneaking out of the cabin late at night through the forest to a clearing...a ritual is performed under the moonlight, perhaps at a stone altar... then a secretive return home.
Level - Senior A
Technical Skills - Legato intervals in the left hand, and rich and complex chords in the middle section.
Corn Ball
A little grandeur. A little goofiness. Just for fun.
Level - Senior B
Technical Skills - Somewhat challenging. Rapid skips in the left hand and some rapid repeated notes in the right hand. Strenuous to play, but fun for a suitably advanced performer.