The Colour Suites
A collection of piano solos for the late beginner or early intermediate pianist.
These pieces are composed in a highly patterned way, completely diatonic (with no accidentals), and each one sounds ‘grown up’, with lots of chances to use pedal and experiment with phrasing and dynamics.
There are six suites each named after a different colour. Within each suite are three separate movements named after shades of that colour. Students can learn individual pieces for fun or performance, or experience the process of studying a larger work by learning the suites as a whole.
These pieces are perfect for recitals or festival performance. The collection can also be performed in its entirety as a “Colour Concert”, where performers dress in the colour of their own piece
The Blue Suite
Cobalt, is the third movement of The Blue Suite. It is also in A minor but the character is less melodic and gives the student freedom to experiment with a more lively tempo and staccato articulation. This pieces completes the “Blue Suite” and is a wonderful contrast to the first two movements.
Azure, is the second movement of The Blue Suite. It also has a key signature of no sharps or flats, and centres around the minor mode, (A minor). This piece allows the player to explore the technique of bringing out an inner voice, as the melody is in the alto line played with the right thumb.
Pale Blue is the first movement of The Blue Suite. It has a key signature of no sharps or flats, and centres around the minor mode, (A minor). It’s composed around a simple chord progression and for an extra challenge players can easily transpose it to other keys.
The Green Suite
Sage is the first movement of The Green Suite. It is in the key of G major with one sharp. Pianists have the chance to develop hand crossing techniques with the ascending and descending arpeggios. It’s also wonderful as a way to experiment with phrasing and pedal techniques.
Sea Green is the second movement of The Green Suite. It is in the key of G Major and is a simple to learn piece that sounds beautiful and charming. Pianist have the opportunity to experience dotted rhythm which creates a lilting feeling. It also present a left hand line that has inverted chords which might be new to the player.
Malachite is the third movement of The Green Suite. Although it has a rapid tempo, it is technically accessible to the late beginner/early intermediate pianist. The right hand pattern introduces a rotation motion that lays the foundation for trills found in more advanced repertoire. This piece sounds elaborate but is highly patterned in its composition making it much easier to play than it sounds
The Purple Suite
Magenta is the first movement of The Purple Suite. At first it appears slightly more complex than it is, as it has three sharps, but the pianist quickly notices the patterns doing through the piece that build naturally on each other, both making it accessible to perform and also helping to develop more advanced reading skills.
Violet is the second movement of The Purple Suite It is wonderful in its simplicity and rich musical elements. Pianists explore a dotted, lilting rhythm as well as enjoy the experience of inverted chords in the bass clef.
Fuchsia is the third movement of The Purple Suite It is a wonderful piece for recitals and any performance. Extremely 'showy'. However, the composition is accessible and with lots of patterned repetition. It teaches a valuable rotation technique in the right hand that pianists will go on to use in future, more advanced, repertoire.
The Yellow Suite
Gold is the first movement of The Yellow Suite. It is a wonderful piece for recitals and any performance. Pianists can explore a hand crossing technique as well as grow familiar with reading intervals of a second, which is often a new notation fro the late beginner or early intermediate player.
Citrine is the third movement of The Yellow Suite. It is a wonderful piece for recitals and any performance. Pianists also experience the freedom of "Ped. ad. lib." which gives them the opportunity to really listen to their pedalling and adjust it for musical reasons. This piece also has the technical element of Alberti Bass, which might be a new technique for players at this level.
Summer Ochre is the second movement of The Yellow Suite. It's simple in it's melody and chord structure, but presents a more complex rhythm with a syncopation theme that pianists at this level might not have seen before. It allows them to practice this technique within a beautiful melodic theme.
The Red Suite
Mahogany is the first movement of The Red Suite. It is a wonderful piece for recitals as it is easily accessible for the late beginner or early intermediate pianist. The key signature of two flats might present something new to this level of player but it is straight forward in its chord progression making such a challenge manageable.
Vermillion is the second movement of The Red Suite. It is a wonderful piece for recitals and any performance. It continues to give the player experience working in the key of B Flat major without too much compositional complexities. It also includes the definition "Grazioso" which might be new to pianists at this level and is a fun articulation to learn.
Crimson is the third movement of The Red Suite. It is fun and charming, a wonderful piece for recitals and any performance. This piece is levelled more toward the intermediate pianist, as the technical demands are slightly higher than the rest of the collection. It is an excellent piece to explore a staccato articulation as well as experimenting with different characters.
The Grey Suite
Fog is the first movement of The Grey Suite. It is a wonderfully atmospheric, with a tempo marking or Adagio con Rubato. pianists have the chance to experiment with rubato, which is a technique not often found in repertoire at this level. This piece also has the terms "parlando" and "cantabile", allowing the player to experience the differences in these two musical qualities within the same piece
Silver is the second movement of The Grey Suite. It has a tempo marking of 'Flowing", but the pianist has the opportunity to be creative with a personal tempo. This piece is wonderful for experiencing more hand crossing technique and uses a wide expanse of the keyboard.
Slate is the third movement of The Grey Suite. It is a wonderful and quirky piece for recitals and any performance. Extremely 'showy'. The level is more early intermediate, but late beginners will not find it too far beyond their reach. It explores a persistent staccato articulation and includes quick grace notes, which might be a technique that playeres at this level might not have yet seen.