Awesome Possum: Piano

A swaggering, good-natured blues groove with an animal charm. The writing captures the swagger of the style while keeping the technical demands light enough that young players can focus on feeling the rhythm and exploring what makes blues different from what they've learned before.

Early elementary pianists who are ready to explore blues but need a technically manageable entry point. This piece works beautifully for students who've solidified their Middle C position and are curious about genres beyond classical studies.

• Keep the blues groove steady and relaxed. The charm of this piece lives in its laid-back rhythm, so resist the urge to rush through it.
• When flats appear, mark them clearly in your score before the first performance. Early elementary students benefit from a visual reminder that these accidentals belong to the piece's blues character.
• The minimal hands-together sections are intentional. Use them as opportunities to build confidence in coordination rather than racing toward complexity.
• Let the 'awesome possum' spirit shine through your phrasing. Blues doesn't need to sound serious; playfulness is part of the style.

Perfect for a spring recital when students want to play something current and fun alongside their classical pieces. The animal subject matter also pairs well with elementary concert themes about nature or wildlife, and the accessible blues style invites audiences to hear how many musical worlds exist beyond the concert repertoire they know.

• Playing with a steady blues groove and swing feel
• Reading and executing flats in a melodic context
• Maintaining hand position while adding flat-key vocabulary
• Balancing independence and coordination in minimal hands-together passages