This piece is part of a series that materialized from my intentions to:

1. Borrow pop music chord progressions and grooves that have always influenced my arrangements and bring them to my original compositions. I wanted to practice what I preach in the 321 Challenge and see how I could change and add to ideas from others and make them my own.

2. Compose pedagogically-considerate pieces with appealing patterns for elementary and intermediate students. Here’s my first attempt on creating original work beyond my intermediate arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.“

3. Write something accessible with style, hip chords that offers rich opportunities for exploring musicality.

The Details

Level: Intermediate

Character: Determined to move forward despite frustrating obstacles.

Inspiration: Lady Gaga in the soundtrack, “A Star is Born” and an artist named “Big Wild” who I learned about from my son, Levi.

Description: Sometimes we find ourselves stuck in one place when we’d rather be in another. This piece echoes the hectic even frantic pace of life and takes you on a journey to a different and hopefully better place.

Technical considerations: This piece demands a steady, driving pulse with strong left-hand accents to emphasize the “lopsided” groove. Instead of counting with 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, count eight 8th notes per measure to help master the accent on beat 6 and other rhythms. Counting 8ths makes each 8th note seem “more significant”—as one of my students so eloquently put it. It will be easier to master the piece by memorizing it because of the many hand shifts. Consider learning it by rote or semi-rote.

This is a STUDIO License. You may duplicate for your students but please do not share with teachers outside your studio.

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If you have any questions, please contact me at  leilaviss88@gmail.com