- Level: Early Elementary
- Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Thunderous, then Mysterious
- Bonus and Features: mp3 performance track; Black key; Hand positions pictured
- Format:PDF instant download
- Series: Finding Beautiful Places
Gathering Storm is sure to be a student favorite! The lowest Eb being played throughout the beginning measures adds fullness to the piece. It also gives students an opportunity to explore storytelling and dynamic expression – something that is difficult to find with early elementary pieces! A quick shift to triple meter at the end allows students to “feel” the gathering clouds burst with rain. This meter change gives students the feeling that they are progressing quickly and accomplishing something early on, making it a confidence-boosting piece!
What level is Gathering Storm?
Gathering Storm is an early elementary piece on black keys, with one white key in the right hand. The hand position is pictured clearly on the first page. The smallest note value is a quarter note. The right hand plays two notes at the same time (harmonic 3rd) at the beginning and end of the piece, making it only slightly more difficult than the other pieces in the series.
The lowest Eb on the piano is played throughout several measures, which is a fantastic way to get students accustomed to the topography of the piano at an early stage. It will also help keep them from getting “stuck” in one register at the piano. The piece is in 4/4, except for a shift to 3/4 at the end of the piece. The shift feels natural, and all ages of students will find it easier to play expressively because of the story suggested behind the music.
The pedal is held throughout the piece, and all finger numbers are included. This piece is encouraging for students who feel impatient about progressing, or want to feel they’re learning at a quick rate, thanks to the Eb and shifting meter.
Bonus recording included!
Gathering Storm comes with a bonus mp3 recording performed by Wendy Stevens. You are permitted to send this example performance track to your students to help them learn the piece.
More About the Finding Beautiful Places Series:
Gathering Storm is a part of the Finding Beautiful Places series that gives older students (like teens and adults) beautiful music that doesn’t make them sound like a child. This series is especially easy and helpful as hand positions are pictured, finger numbers are indicated on each note, and the hands are mostly on the black keys so finding the correct notes are easy. This series is made especially for teens and adults as is part of our Music Adults Love™ and Music Teens Love™ collection – beautiful, mature sounding music that doesn’t sound like it comes from a child’s method book.
The collections in this series include:
- Finding Beautiful Places – EE (Early Elementary) Music on the black keys; For those with no prior piano experience
- Entering Beautiful Places – E (Elementary) Music for those who are transitioning to the white keys or who need to review their white key note names
- In Beautiful Places – E (Elementary) Music for mid elementary students containing some across the bar line syncopation, but music that is still quite achievable and beautiful at this level
- Exploring Beautiful Places – LE (Late Elementary) Music for the late elementary pianist that contains eighth notes that are easy to feel and play.
What is the Studio License?
Gathering Storm is delivered digitally (through your email receipt) and is studio licensed. This means that you can print and use this for any student that you directly teach for your entire lifetime of teaching.
Jenny –
My four-year-old daughter has already learned Gathering Storm and is working on Coastal Reverie. She is absolutely loving both pieces and feels so proud of herself that she can play such beautiful-sounding music! She begs me to do piano with her every day so she can play her pieces! Thank you so much for these wonderful pieces!
Valerie –
I am loving the new music that I purchased! Gathering Storm has been a big hit with my young boy students!! 🙂
Candace –
One of my young early beginners began this piece a couple of weeks ago. She is so excited about how “cool” it sounds. It falls easily under the fingers and has given her a real sense of accomplishment. Thanks, Wendy, for all of these new pieces!
Gabriele Burgess –
I have an adult student who knew nothing about piano when she started just one month ago. This piece really hit the mark for her. It was accessible to her beginning understanding and it was a big sound.
marian –
I love this piece because it gives students such a big, bold sound contrasted with quieter legato sections. The title is wonderful for creating a story of the “perfect storm.”
Anna –
In the Finding Beautiful Places bundle, Gathering Storm was the perfect 2nd song to introduce. With the monsoon season, students could relate as we discussed the images this song paints. Students paired up to share first and then shared with the class which storm elements might be represented with the music. It was inspiring to me to watch them discuss not only physical storms outside but also the internal storms of life.
Kelly –
My littlest students LOVE how big and bold they sound playing the intro to this piece! I had a six year old who first learned it hands separate, with dad playing the opposite hand, and then felt so accomplished when he could do both himself. And a five year old with lots of energy and wiggles will completely focus when she’s working on getting both hands going for this piece. Love it!!
Pam –
I gave Finding Beautiful Places to several students, including an older beginner in her 60s. When her husband heard her practicing, he commented, “Wow! You’re playing REAL music!” She was delighted and motivated to learn more.
I have a student who likes big sounds and so Gathering Storm was perfect for him!
I also like using those pieces for students who need rhythmic corrections because it removes the need to process a note name as strongly.
Richard –
I gave Gathering Storm to a student who seldom practices, due to his family’s busy schedule. I knew he would like the dramatic flair. At the next lesson, his sister said to me, “He has been playing that piece every day!”
Velia –
I have received several comments about the beautiful artwork on the covers of ‘Finding Beautiful Places’ and ‘Entering Beautiful Places’ from parents and students. Some students automatically placed the artwork next to the music page at the piano, without me suggesting to do so.
Students immediately realized that the music is beautiful and quite manageable for their skill level. The students enjoyed the mature sounds.
From my perspective as a music teacher, it was evident that the students could apply the performance directions in a relaxed way, as they became comfortable with learning the piece quite quickly (playing correct notes, correct rhythm and at a good tempo).
Olivia –
I love this piece. I had a new male student, about 12, who was a little “iffy” about starting piano lessons with his younger siblings. I knew it was going to take more than a method book to keep him engaged. When I found this one, I knew it would work. He especially gets into the “booming” thunder sounds at the beginning. Love that he could learn it without a lot of lessons under his belt yet.
Holly –
This was the first year that I shared several of Wendy’s pieces with my students for them to choose recital repertoire from. I was amazed at how easy they were to teach by rote and boosted their confidence when they realized how easy they were to learn. They especially loved how grand they sounded being able to move all over the piano. When I had a few parents listen in on our dress rehearsal they were amazed to see what their children were able to accomplish. My absolute favorites for this year were Savanna Stalk, Gathering Storm, Emerald, and Summit Reflections. I am so excited to pass along many more of Wendy’s amazing songs to my students this next year! Thank you for creating amazing resources that both teachers and students can fall in love with!
Adriene –
My adult first year students are enjoying Gathering Storm, Summer Sky, and other pieces such as A Royal Invitation and The Bold Escape. It makes them feel amazing when they can make these big, bold sounds, and place their hands all over the piano. They want more of these pieces.
Melinda –
The perfect blending of strong, mysterious and delicate! The perfect song!