Galloping Ponies

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 exercisefor 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 aquarter 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