Walden Etudes for piano four-hands (teaching/learning)
Attention piano teachers and students!
Download: Piano 3-hand.Three one-minute piano etudes. These were composed in 2001 in Dublin NH while I was composer in-residence at Walden School. The pedagogical purpose is to give piano teachers and their beginning students something that they can play during that early time when a relationship is being formed. I'd love to hear your experiences, if you use them. Please send me an email.
The first movement is called "Maestoso." I think I had been listening to Aaron Copland's Four Piano Blues, a favorite American piano compositions from the 20th Century. "Perpetual Motion" gives the student a chance to set a fast tempo -- hang on to your hats! "4-3-1" is the fingering pattern for the student as it cascades down the octaves; a stately Andante.