The Villains: Piano

Levitt captures something rare here: a piece that lets students be silly without being childish. The combination of jazz-inflected rhythms, physical choreography, and genuine musical content means your audience stays engaged while your students have the freedom to perform with personality and attitude.

Mischievous and driving, with an undercurrent of jazzy menace. The music propels forward with rhythmic momentum while maintaining that playful edge that makes you want to smirk while you're playing. It's showmanship dressed up as serious music.

Intermediate to late intermediate pianists who are ready for duet playing and can handle rhythmic complexity without extensive hand position issues. This works best for students with a bit of performance experience and the confidence to commit to the theatrical elements.

• Coordinate the physical moves with your co-performer early in rehearsal. The choreography shouldn't distract from the musical line; it should enhance it. Once the moves are habitual, both players can focus on locking the rhythmic groove.
• The sinister jazz elements demand precision in articulation and timing. Detached eighth notes and crisp rhythmic attacks will sell the edgy character more effectively than a loose approach.
• Record yourselves regularly. Hearing playback helps you catch rhythmic inconsistencies and balance issues that are easy to miss while performing the physical component.

Perfect for a spring concert finale or any program where you want to shift the energy after more traditional repertoire. Pair it with another Levitt duet like Mansion Rag to showcase his distinctive voice, or use it as a palate cleanser in a mixed recital.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures
• Jazz articulation and phrasing
• Duet balance and listening across the ensemble
• Coordination of physical choreography with musical execution
• Comfort with unexpected harmonic shifts and modal interchange