New Modern Sonatina!

Is there such a thing as a modern sonatina? How do you compose a modern sonatina? What makes a sonatina a sonatina anyway?

Those are the questions I asked when the Katy Music Teachers Association commissioned me to write an elementary modern sonatina for their sonatina festival this year! But they didn’t just want a sonatina. They wanted a sonatina that kids could get excited about. A modern sonatina that elementary students could wow people with! Kay from the Katy Music Teachers Association wanted to be able to assign a student a sonatina and have the student say,

“Yay! I love sonatinas!”

We all want that, right? 🙂

Katy Texas Did Something for All Teachers!

The Katy Music Teachers Association has done something for all teachers by commissioning the writing of a modern, elementary level sonatina. They asked me to write a sonatina that would make the audience say,

“I want to hear that again!”

And something that would incorporate FUN!

“…maybe some tapping, clapping, knocking on fallboard or bench, glissandos, pedal effects – something that is playful in nature. Of course, the piece should be smart as to pedagogy, not asking for crazy fingering or hand positions. Something that incorporates a theme or mood – and in short – the listener thinks – “I want to hear that again!”

Whew! It was a tall order, but I think it’s happened! See what you think:

Get 3 Separate Pieces or 1 Big Modern Sonatina!

Three movements are featured in this modern sonatina including:

  • Springs and Sprinkles – features sonata form complete with two glissandos and a magnificently impressive ending!
  • View From the Canoe – a lyrical, calm movement with enough ease to help your students learn voicing and beautiful nuance. This movement is in minuet and trio form.
  • Snakin’ Through the Bayou – Lots of options are open on this movement! Students can snap instead of using their right hand in some places, or even invite a friend to snap in places while they play. It also feature a place where students can hiss like a snake if they’d like (optional of course). Lots of creative ways to perform this movement!

Purchase Options

Purchasing a studio license permits you to print as many copies as you ever need for students you directly teach. It is an amazing bargain as it means that you get an unlimited supply of that piece of music for your lifetime!

Printed Sheet Music

You can also purchase this as printed music (12 pages) that will be shipped to you! (U.S. only)

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