Willis Music Galloping Ponies Mid-Elementary Piano Solo by Claudette Hudelson

Description: It is in A B A form with a coda. The song has direct dynamic contrasts and also shading (crescendo- decrescendo). It is meant to be played in a 'lively' tempo that the student can master. Purpose: * It's an exercise for a legato right hand accompanied by a detached left hand. * The student learns to 'roll off' staccato at the ends of slurs gently without 'punching' them. * The song also requires the student to count the eighth rests in mm. 18-19, 22-23 in order to give 'oomph' to the following accented quarter notes. Suggestions for Instruction: *Have the student say, Giddy-up, giddy-up. The sound of the words gives a feeling for the rhythm of two eighths and a quarter note. *The fingering in mm. 19-20 and 23-24 is important in order to execute slurs properly. *Try the right hand alone (mm. 4-8, 11-12) for shading with the crescendos and decrescendos. Key: C Major