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The Carolinas: Piano Sheet

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The Carolinas Cover Image
The Carolinas: Piano Sheet

The Carolinas: Piano Sheet

By Dennis Alexander

Level: Late Intermediate

Item: 00-33895
$4.50
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Description
Dennis Alexander's The Carolinas is a musical vision of North and South Carolina. The three movements represent distinct characteristics of these states. The suite begins with "Dogwoods in Bloom," a tribute to the state flower of North Carolina. This colorful movement recreates the sound of the red cardinal (North Carolina's state bird) on the piano, signaling the bloom of the beautiful dogwood blossoms. South Carolina is highlighted in the second movement, "Dancin' the Myrtle Beach Shag," a lively rendition of this famous dance style. Both states are featured in "Storm on the Carolina Coast." This final movement captures the power, fury and drama of an impending storm bearing down on the coasts of North and South Carolina.

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Myrtle Beach Shag

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Additional Details
Series: Recital Suite Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
ISBN10: 0-7390-6434-7
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-6434-4
UPC: 038081375359
SKU: 00-33895

More about this title

About the Composer: Dennis Alexander

Dennis Alexander

Dennis Alexander is a prolific composer whose work with Alfred Music Publishing spans nearly four decades and includes over 400 published compositions. Equally respected as a pedagogue, he served for 24 years as a piano faculty member at the University of Montana before relocating to California, where he taught at Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge. His Carnegie Hall debut as a chamber musician and his ongoing work as a clinician at state and national conventions have established him as a visible figure in American music education.

Alexander has earned an international reputation for his accessible yet musically sophisticated piano writing across all student levels. His compositions have been commissioned by numerous state music associations, and his influence extends globally through recital tours, master classes, and judging roles at international competitions in Asia and beyond. He currently resides in Albuquerque and maintains an active schedule of composing and performance.

Why we love this

Alexander captures specific geographic and cultural details with genuine musical imagination rather than tourist clichés. Each movement stands on its own musically while telling a coherent story about the Carolinas, giving your students something substantial to interpret and perform, not just a collection of regional references strung together.

What to expect

The suite moves from the delicate, ornamental beauty of spring blossoms and avian calls into the infectious energy of a coastal dance, then unleashes genuine dramatic power as weather and ocean collide. Alexander balances descriptive writing with genuine musical substance, creating moments that feel both programmatic and pianistically rewarding.

Who it's for

Late intermediate pianists ready to connect musical technique with storytelling and geographical context. Students at this level can handle the harmonic language and rhythmic variety while still developing interpretive confidence, making this suite an ideal recital or festival piece.

How to get the most out of it

  • Color the cardinal song in 'Dogwoods in Bloom' with bright, articulate upper-register work while keeping the harmonic foundation warm and full.
  • Find the driving pulse in 'Dancin' the Myrtle Beach Shag' by feeling the shag rhythm as a groove rather than metronomic accuracy; let it breathe with the dance's natural swing.
  • Build the storm movement gradually, treating dynamic markings as part of the architecture rather than isolated gestures; plan your climax before you begin.
  • Listen closely to the interplay between melody and accompaniment throughout all three movements; Alexander often hides secondary melodic material that deserves subtle voice leading.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone suite on a student recital to give shape and narrative arc to a performance, or split the three movements across different programs if you prefer variety without excessive length. Its regional character makes it particularly effective for community performances, state music festivals, or programs celebrating American composers.

Skills your students will build

  • Managing tempo and rhythmic independence between hands in the shag movement
  • Voicing block chords and arpeggiated accompaniment patterns clearly
  • Building and controlling dramatic tension across longer sectional forms
  • Interpreting programmatic content through dynamic control and articulation choices
  • Executing rapid scalar figures and ornamental passages with evenness

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