The Circus Has Arrived! (Submitted by Regina teacher Flora Tyler)
Invite your younger students to an afternoon of circus fun. Decorate your room in bright colours and circus style decorations. Serve popcorn in small brown bags, or cake decorated as a clown face. Convince your spouse or a parent to dress up as a clown to serve the food and drinks. We'll help you choose the pieces:
Solo Suggestions
Earliest Beginner
- "Pop Corn" by Jon George from Musical Moments Book 1. This piece is to be played hands separately and 'in a salty way'!
- "Elephant Dance" by Jon George from the same book is a short and very easy left hand solo 'to be played heavily'.
Early Elementary
- "The Jolly Clown" by Martha Mier from Just Imagine Bk 1. This cheerful staccato piece which is to be played all over the keyboard creates a delightful image of a goofy clown.
- "Circus Animals" by Canadian composer Pierre Gallant from Celebrate Piano! Recital Pieces. To be played happily and with humour. Lots of staccato!
- "Cinnamon Popcorn", "Circus Waltz", "Merry Merry-Go-Round" and "Perfect Balance" are four great pieces found in Just For You Bk 1 written by one of our favorite composers, Dennis Alexander.
- "Climb up on an Elephant" arranged by Canadian composer Nancy Telfer from Celebration Series The Piano Odyssey Gr 1.
Intermediate
- "Ferocious Lions", "Amazing Elephants", "The Flying Trapeze" by Che-Hwa-Tan from the highly recommended book Circus Sonatinas.
- "A Carousel Ride" by Martha Mier from Romantic Impressions Bk 1. A waltz rhythm accompanies a lovely lilting melody.
- "Somersaults" by Susan Alcon from the book Wildflowers. This piece creates the effect of tumbling from beginning to end.
- "Carousel" by Susan Alcon from the book Silver Lining. Feel yourself whirling around an antique carousel in this fanciful waltz.
Duet Suggestions
No recital is complete without duets. - teacher can play too!..
Elementary
- "Antique Carousel" by Susan Ogilvy from Sparklers.
- "Bears on Wheels" by Margaret Goldston from Duets for Bear Lovers.
Intermediate
- "Clown Capers" by Linda Niamath from the book Outer Limits.
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