Rabbit Foot: Educational Piano

Price writes with a gift for crafting memorable melodic material that feels organic within a well-structured harmonic framework. Students connect immediately with the character and proportions of this piece, and teachers appreciate how cleanly the musical ideas sit under the hands.

Bright and animated, with a playful spirit that never tips into frenetic energy. The music has a lyrical quality despite its title, grounded in a sense of purposeful forward motion.

Intermediate elementary to early intermediate pianists who are ready to work with pieces that have genuine musical substance. This works well for students developing independence between the hands and comfort with moderate rhythmic variety.

• Allow the melodic contour to sing; resist the urge to rush through runs or quick passages, which can flatten the line.
• Balance the hand parts so the primary voice emerges naturally without heavy accents or pedal obscuring the texture.
• Explore the harmonic color beneath the melody; Price's chordal choices reward careful listening and subtle dynamic shaping.
• Consider the piece's form as a guide to phrasing; respecting the structural logic makes the piece feel inevitable rather than episodic.

Pair this with other American classical works in a chamber or solo recital celebrating 20th century compositional voices. It also serves as an excellent choice for student showcases where you want to highlight both technical competency and musical maturity.

• Hand independence (melody and accompaniment played simultaneously)
• Phrasing across moderate phrase lengths
• Dynamic control in a lyrical context
• Reading and executing articulations (staccato, legato, accent)