Sound Explorers Learn Parson’s Farewell

Here’s the video if you missed it. Let me know if you’d like the sheet music.

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Playing Music with 3 Flats

In A Year of Folk Tunes, October’s key of the month is E Flat Major and C Minor.

I wrote four rounds to help navigate this key. Everyone who played them, got a lot better at the hand positions required for E Flat Major and C Minor.

The rounds have one part doubled so they would be playable with only two parts. In score form, each tune also has an optional piano part for extra rehearsal. As you can see from the titles, I continued with a fall theme for these tunes.

March of the Scarecrows is an E flat major round in 4/4 time. The violins and violas begin this round, with the cello part entering two measures later. A terrific study to work on intonation across the instrument.

Pumpkin Roll is in 6/8 time. Both voices begin simultaneously and then change function in the middle.

Cider Press dances into fall in E flat major and 6/8 time. Watch the eighth notes. It changes from quarter eighth to eighth quarter in several measures.

Graveyard at Dusk is the C minor round. This waltz opens and concludes with the cello part playing the melody.

Digital sheet music is available here.
March of the Scarecrows for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Pumpkin Roll for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Cider Press for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Graveyard at Dusk for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano

Listen to the canons here.
March of the Scarecrows
Pumpkin Roll
Cider Press
Graveyard at Dusk

Thank-you Sophie for playing the violin in the videos for the new pieces.

Current round count: 40

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Sound Explorers Learn Spooky Scary Skeletons

Here’s the video if you need to get caught up.

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Two Students Playing All the Pretty Little Horses

Video performances one and two.

This is the September tune in A Year of Folk Tunes for Piano,

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Moraine State Park, Bike Trail

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Sound Explorers 10/4

Today we worked on the October scales, E flat major and C minor. We also did some physical stretches for ease in playing. If you missed it, catch up with the video.

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Playing music with 4 flats

In A Year of Folk Tunes, September’s key of the month is A Flat Major and F Minor.

I wrote four rounds to help navigate this key. Everyone who played them, got a lot better at the hand positions required for A Flat Major and F Minor.

The rounds have one part doubled so they would be playable with only two parts. In score form, each tune also has an optional piano part for extra rehearsal. As you can see from the titles, I chose a fall theme for these tunes.

Bobbing for Apples has a lyrical section and a section working with staccato octaves. Both voices begin at the same time, then change styles part way through.

Sunflower Harvest is in A Flat Major. The violins and violas begin this round. It is a terrific intonation study.

In the Grape Arbor also begins with the violins and violas. It drills scale patterns and octave leaps.

Corn Maze is in F Minor and 3/4 time. The cello part opens this round. It ends with a false harmonic in the upper strings.

Digital sheet music is available.
Bobbing for Apples for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Sunflower Harves for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
In the Grape Arbor for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano
Corn Maze for Violin, Viola, Cello and Optional Piano

Listen to the canons here.
Bobbing for Apples
Sunflower Harvest
In the Grape Arbor
Corn Maze

Thank-you Molly for playing the viola on Bobbing for Apples and Corn Maze. Thank-you Sophie for playing the violin on Sunflower Harvest and In the Grape Arbor.

Current round count: 36

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All the Pretty Little Horses Piano Solo

The sheet music for All the Pretty Little Horses is now available as a digital download. Included in A Year of Folk Tunes for Piano, the digital download version has A Flat Major warm-ups and preparatory studies to make it easier to learn the piece.

The first verse can be played with no hands together notes and could stand alone as a solo. The second verse requires hands together and extensions. In the second half, there are some right-hand sixths. 

Watch and listen to the All the Pretty Little Horses piano solo. Get your own copy and start practicing it today.

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Buffalo Gals Piano Solo

The sheet music for Buffalo Gals is now available as a digital download. Included in A Year of Folk Tunes for Piano, the digital download version has D Flat Major warm-ups and preparatory studies to make it easier to learn the piece.

The first verse can be played with no hands together notes and could stand alone as a solo. The second verse requires hands together and a finger extension. 

Watch and listen to the Buffalo Gals piano solo. Get your own copy and start practicing it today.

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When you find a piano at Costco and just start playing

Listen

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