De Mes Amis, Les Animaux is a work written with both the aspiring classical piano student and the professional concert artist in mind.
As individual pieces, these Žtudes give advanced student pianists beautiful and emotional outlets for developing skills with regard to keyboard dexterity, voicing, character portrayal, and continuity. Designed to be used after Suzuki Book VI (or around the ability required for BurgmŸller Op. 100 or Heller Op. 45), these pieces provide introduction into the techniques of the serious classical repertoire, explore a range of key signatures, and never require the use of an octave stretch in one hand!
Performed as a whole, the professional has a nearly 50 minute work that will delight audiences with its emotional arch. Moments of tenderness and peace are contrasted with storms and struggle, and the audience is ultimately left with a sense of bittersweet recollection.