The Bean Bag Zoo Collector's Series, Book 2: 7 All-New Late Elementary Piano Solos for Bean Bag Animal Lovers: Piano
7 All-New Late Elementary Piano Solos for Bean Bag Animal Lovers
By Catherine Rollin
Level: Late Elementary
Item: 00-PB-0000721
$5.95
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Description
Using visual imagery and tales of Bean Bag animal adventures to achieve musical goals, The Bean Bag Zoo Collector's Series Book 2 takes late elementary piano students on a fun and engaging musical journey. For example, playing with dramatic flair becomes easier when picturing a snarling bull or a scary, but friendly gorilla. Legato playing feels natural when visualizing a magical unicorn or a slithering snake. Seven solos in all-definitely a collector's item! A Federation Festivals 2024-2028 selection.
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Additional Details
Series:
The Bean Bag Zoo Collector's Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PB-0000721
More about this title
About the Composer: Catherine Rollin
Catherine Rollin balances an active composing career with mentoring piano students who consistently earn festival recognition and awards. She holds degrees from the University of Michigan (Bachelor of Musical Arts with distinction) and Oakland University School of Performing Arts (Master of Music), and has delivered workshops and masterclasses across more than 200 cities in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan.
Rollin's compositional work has earned commissions from Clavier Companion magazine, the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and the Michigan Music Teachers Association. Multiple pieces have appeared in the National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals Bulletin, and she has served as a judge for the MTNA Student Composition Competition and the Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Contest. In 2018, she received a prestigious MTNA commission resulting in Suite Detroit, a trio for flute, alto saxophone, and piano that premiered at the national conference in Orlando. The Steinway Society featured her in concert that same year, highlighting her ASCAP award-winning Museum Masterpieces series alongside her work as both composer and pianist.
Why we love this
Rollin anchors each piece to a specific Bean Bag animal with tailored musical character, making interpretive choices transparent and concrete for students still building their musical imagination. The imagery method works pedagogically because students can hear the difference between a gentle unicorn legato and a dramatic bull; they're not guessing what "expressive" means. For late elementary students who benefit from external narrative anchors, this collection transforms technique-building into storytelling.
What to expect
These pieces capture the energy and personality of childhood wonder without condescension. Some pieces sparkle with whimsy and lightness; others demand dramatic flair and weight. Throughout, the writing respects the student's emerging musicianship while keeping the journey playful and accessible.
Who it's for
Late elementary piano students ready to move beyond note-reading mechanics and begin shaping phrases with intention. Students who respond well to narrative scaffolding will find the Bean Bag connection especially rewarding, though the musical writing stands on its own merits for any student at this level.
How to get the most out of it
- Envision the animal character before playing each piece. Let the animal's movement, size, and personality inform your touch, tempo flexibility, and dynamic choices rather than following only what the notation prescribes.
- Experiment with the visual story to unlock difficult passages. If a legato section feels wooden, picture the specific animal and how it moves; physicality at the keyboard will follow naturally.
- Record yourself playing one piece, then listen back while looking at your Bean Bag animal (or a picture of it). Notice where your musical choices matched the character and where you could strengthen the connection.
How to use it
Choose individual pieces for late elementary recitals, or program multiple selections from the book back-to-back to showcase a student's range and growth across different musical characters and technical challenges. These also work well as festival selections given the 2024-2028 Federation Festivals recognition.
Skills your students will build
- Dramatic interpretation and character portrayal through varied touch and dynamics
- Legato phrasing and pedal control
- Musical decision-making using visual imagery as a springboard
- Connecting emotional narrative to technical execution
- Reading and performing across multiple piece styles and textures within one collection