Good evening.

I am looking for ideas for pieces for four hands piano and another instrument, either flute or a string instrument.

On piano, the primo part will be played by a child, 3rd or 4th year. I'm not looking for something virtuosic, I want the child to concentrate on the other instrument, not on the difficulties of his part.

The secondo part is to be played by a teacher or a more advanced student.

The 3rd instrument will be a student as well, more or less the same level as the child.

I'd like to find something that swings, something rhythmically catchy. A Schubert Ländler, for example, or something by Bartok. But that is secondary, any recommandation would be received with hearty thanks.

Any ideas?

No suggestions?

sorry that you've had silence on this one landorrano. My guess is that 4 hands canoverwhelm the sound that a violin or flute makes, so less people arrange or write for this.

I have a piano student who got together with 2 friends at school, another piano player and a flute player, to play together for their performance class. They found piano 4 hands pieces and wrote out a flute part themselves using the top line of the piece. I made some suggestions, e.g. the flute doesn't have to play the whole time - it can "converse" with the top piano line, the flute can play in higher 8ve, and you can change 8ves during the song in certain places. Well the arrangement wasn't perfect of course (it was their first go at this). From my point of view it was a great exercise for my student who had just transfered from another teacher *determined* to conquer reading. Having to work on a score was very educational. I'm assuming one of the players is a child of yours, yes? so that could be fun for you too.

Doesn't at all help with finding some pieces already arranged for you... hope it helps a bit.

Thanks Canonie, what you write is very interesting. You are right, the child on piano is my daughter.

I have been thinking over the same idea, taking pieces for four hands and adding the other instrument. I'm sure that my daughter would be thrilled, it would certainly be for her an fascinating endeavor ... and for me too! In fact, it was my first idea, but then I thought that there probably exist convenable pieces or arrangements.

I also have a few pieces for piano and violin or piano and flute, or piano and voice, a bit too advanced for my daughter, that I might arrange for 4 hands and second instrument.

Pretty much all of the music I know for 2 pianists and other instruments requires 2 pianos. There are some songs, like Brahms' Liebeslieder.

When you add the additional requirement that there is a student part, you are really restricting your choices. I am afraid that you might need to do your own arranging.

There is a Requiem in the Paraphrases by Borodin, et al., which has a vocal part, which could be an instrument. But it is for Russian basses, very low, which would not be an instrument for a beginner. Besides, the primo part is a version of Chopsticks, which might be too simple. (Every teacher should know the Paraphrases. They can get you started with a prospective student before you or they know it.)

Lovely! Have fun together. I can just imagine your daughter saying rather seriously "No Dad, I think it sounds better this way" and you having to answer "Of course, you are right! Write it in then". I hope it's a very special learning experience.