Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, hoping the day is filled with gratitude. Here are two piano solos I learned recently; perhaps one day I can share these with my students.

The first is a Late Intermediate piano solo, We Gather Together, a Netherland Folk Song arranged by Kenon D. Renfrow. The selection starts in the Key of C and then moves to Ab, with various dynamics throughout the piece. Renfrow creates a gorgeous introduction utilizing arpeggios of C Major, A minor, D minor, and G Major in the Bass Clef. He continues to have arpeggios implemented throughout the entire selection. The climax is the mezzo forte to forte to piano at the end. If you're looking for a song to possibly play for a Thanksgiving Service or teach your students, please consider this arrangement from Alfred Music.

The second selection is a duet, the original piece Gobble Wobble Rag from Piano Pronto by Jennifer Eklund in the Key of G Major. This is a fun Ragtime selection that would be great to teach your students about Ragtime Genre. The Secondo could be delineated as Oom-Pah, a Swing Bass Left-hand technique, a single note in the left hand, and a partial Block chord in the right. Yet the Secondo receives some of the melody in the middle of the piece. The song is possibly inspired by Scott Joplin in the Primo part, where Eklund includes a brief hint of the Entertain. The rhythm is eighth, quarters, and half notes. The melody is mostly doubled, which makes it easy to teach and learn. The middle section includes Major, minor, and augmented chords at the dynamic of piano, while most of the melody is in mf or f. The interval distances of the melody are Major thirds and fourths. She also has an original solo, yet I think the duet would be fun to learn and perform with your students.

Again hope you enjoy the solos and have a Happy Thanksgiving. What are you learning this Thanksgiving for yourself or your students? Would like to know. Thanks for your support. Blessings.