Raindrops was conceived out of an exercise to learn how to use the 1 3 finger pattern and build dexterity in these fingers. Realizing that higher positions can be easier for beginners to grip, I discovered the pattern 0 10 12 (E, D, E) was a fun riff if played as a triplet. Using this idea as an ostinato, the piece sprang to life. The majority of the musical ideas in Raindrops (and to some extent the Storm) can be played using 1 and 3 fingers. Often, this will appear as one note to the next but there are several intervals that can be easily grabbed using 1 and 3 while crossing strings. Try to only use open strings when absolutely necessary.

The choice of 4/4 is intended to highlight playing triplets as an additional teaching concept. In fairness, I could have written this in 6 or 3, but I really wanted to teach triplets and finger patterns. Measures 1 – 35 will surely be felt in terms of the half note but make certain to think in 4 /4 for section E as each 8^th note triplet gets a beat; an intended treat for those students who worked very hard to master the riff – now they can play it fast! Having taught this piece several times , I find that we usually take the tempo  around 110 BPM or slightly slower.

The triplet permeates the entire piece in part as texture and as a default part to include those students who wish to participate but may still struggle with reading – they can easily play only the triplet the entire piece. Also, this riff is not meant to overpower the music as a whole but rather be the gentle expression of the rain itself. Guitar one plays the triplet 20 times upfront, so make sure students count and are ready at section B.

The Storm is a pensive yet joyful musical journey. While Raindrops proper was written as a teaching piece, this second movement, titled the Storm, is driven by sound. The inspiration for this piece is in part from a solo piece that I created and the challenge of writing for St. Pious the X High School Guitar Ensemble who premiered the piece at our annual Georgia Music Educator’s Conference under the direction of Brion Kennedy in January 2015.

The first chord of the Storm is intentionally dissonant and meant to ring out, sustain, and let the partials clash in the air setting the stage for a dramatic few measures.The allegro section is a true 120 BPM and has a driving rhythm. Originally, I used Samb rhtyhms in guitar 3 so if you need a more advanced rhtyhm part let me know.

Measure 88 is Moderato at about 105 BPM and serves as a transition towards reintroducing a few key ideas from Raindrops. In some ways it is a third movement, but I wanted the previous ideas to flow into this section and did not bother to define the movement. It is appropriate to nudge the tempo towards the Raindrop feel. At the end, measure 104, feel free to really slow down  and  be dramatic with the tempo. I usually hold the fermatas for emphasis.

I hope that this music will work for you and most importantly that your students enjoy it!