Earth and Sky, Book 4 Cover Image

Earth and Sky, Book 4: Piano Book

$6.50 USD
$6.50 USD
Skip to product information
Earth and Sky, Book 4 Cover Image
Earth and Sky, Book 4: Piano Book

Earth and Sky, Book 4: Piano Book

By Mary Leaf

Item: 98-FJH2331
$6.50
Shipped

One moment…

Description
The journey into nature continues with this collection that engages the senses and allows students to experience the universe in an imaginative way. Every pianistic piece is rewarding and the styles are so varied: Sunshine in the Glen has a lush melody; Rockasaurus has a cool, rock beat; A Star for Finnian has a wee hint of Celtic flavor in G mixlolydian mode; Stirring Volcano is a sleeping volcano beginning to stir; The Rains of Autumn is Impressionistic and introspective; and you can see/feel the shimmering light bounce off the water in Sunset on the Lake. This is Mary Leaf at her best!

Earth and Sky, Book 4: Piano Book isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Composers In Focus
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-61928-275-5
ISBN13: 978-1-61-928275-9
UPC: 241444408056
SKU: 98-FJH2331

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Leaf

Mary Leaf has built a distinctive voice in piano pedagogy by writing music that respects students' growing musicality while keeping them engaged through vivid storytelling. Her Earth and Sky series has become known for balancing technical development with imaginative content, offering intermediate pianists pieces that reward careful listening and expressive playing.

Why we love this

Leaf refuses to let intermediate mean boring. Each piece in this collection takes a specific sonic idea, Celtic inflection, rock groove, impressionistic shimmer, and develops it fully, so students aren't just practicing technical patterns but actually inhabiting different musical worlds. The variety keeps rehearsals fresh while the consistent quality means you can program multiple pieces from the book without worrying about one feeling thin or formulaic.

What to expect

Opening this collection feels like stepping outside into changing light and weather. One moment you're in bright, open countryside; the next you're watching a volcano shift beneath the earth or hearing rain soften the landscape. The music captures those shifts in mood and atmosphere without ever feeling dramatic or overwrought.

Who it's for

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond single-concept pieces and explore how composers use different styles and modes to evoke specific images. This book works well for students developing their interpretive voice and for teachers building recital programs that showcase range and personality.

How to get the most out of it

  • In Sunshine in the Glen, resist the urge to rush through the melody. The lush quality lives in the space and weight you give each phrase.
  • Rockasaurus needs a steady hand on the rock beat in the left hand; lock that groove before adding the right-hand riff so the two parts feel like they're driving together.
  • Let A Star for Finnian breathe. The G mixolydian color works best when you shape the line with light and shadow rather than playing it straight.
  • For Sunset on the Lake, use pedal intentionally to catch the reflective moments, but lift between phrases so the water stays shimmering rather than becoming muddy.

How to use it

These pieces work beautifully as a full program or scattered across a season of mixed repertoire. The thematic coherence makes them ideal for a recital built around "Music Inspired by Nature," or you might pull Rockasaurus as a palette cleanser between weightier classical selections.

Skills your students will build

  • Modal awareness (G mixolydian in A Star for Finnian)
  • Pedal control for impressionistic sound and clarity
  • Rhythmic independence between hands (steady grooves paired with flowing melodies)
  • Phrase shaping and expressive dynamics
  • Playing in varied styles (Celtic, rock, classical impressionism) with stylistic accuracy

You May Also Like