The Misplaced Trooper

The Misplaced Trooper Description:

• Level: Late Intermediate, Early Advanced
• Pages: 6 pages, 3 pages of music, cover included
• Format: Instant PDF download
• Studio Licence Bonus: Cover art, “make it your own” suggestions for students
• Collections: May The Fourth

“The Misplaced Trooper” is a late intermediate to early advanced piece composed almost entirely of minor chords that ranges from dark to playful.  Between the rhythms and 7th through 13th chords this piece is meant to feel a bit off for a march.  Yet when marching to the music, it works!  It was inspired by the idea “What happens when you turn a march on its head rhythmically?”

The Misplaced Trooper Level:

“The Misplaced Trooper” is a late intermediate to early advanced piano solo in 4/4 time.  The initial chords keep the mode a bit ambiguous (much like its inspiration).  While the piece has a dark mood overall, there are moments of lightness and fluidity with the march.  This piece spans over four octaves of the piano to create these moods.

• Mode: F minor (key signature)
• Time Signature: 4/4
• Concepts: 7th through 13th chords, cross rhythms (2 over 3), ledger lines (up 4), walking bass (octaves, chord bridges), 32nd notes, left hand over right hand pattern, triplets (accompaniment, both hand together), accidentals in chords

This piece was inspired by a variation of a chord progression John Williams has used to create a foreboding, menacing mood and relies somewhat on borrowed chords.  This means over 50% of the measures have accidentals in addition to the key signature and they lend to the overall menace of the march. 

The other inspiration for this piece came from “Celebration” by Anne Crosby Gaudet (fellow Canadian).  She used atypical rhythm accents and was something that inspired the rhythm approach in this piece.

The smallest note is barred thirty-second notes.  These mini scales help your students’ fingers fly over the keys while keeping the drama.

The 4/4 time signature for a march could have been straightforward.  Most of the rhythms create a juxtaposition between the dark march and the playfulness of the trooper.  The cross rhythms section lightens up an otherwise dark piece.

Chords (ranging from 7th through 13th) create many of the moods of the piece.  These range from sparse chord bridges with octave accompaniment to lush, full 4-note chords in the right hand and triplet chord inversions.  The cross rhythms section in particular is chord intensive to create a lighter mood.

The Misplaced Trooper Bonus:

All sheet music comes with original cover art.  “The Misplaced Trooper” comes with tips for your students to master the piece.

More About “May The Fourth” Collection:

“The Misplaced Trooper” is part of the “May The Fourth” collection that pays homage to a classic movie saga in a galaxy far, far away.  Your late intermediate to early advanced piano students will love the different takes on various moments or places from the saga.

All piano solos in this collection are at a late intermediate to early advanced level.  Each piece includes 7th and 9th chords (and sometimes beyond) plus sections with cross rhythms.

• Time To Go: Be transported to the end of the night at a famous cantina!  This smooth jazz piece explores lush chords and interesting rhythms in 6/8 time.
• Looking Up From the Forest Moon: Look up through the canopy of redwoods to the stars beyond on this famous forest moon.  This piece explores the vulnerable, introspective side of life in 5/4 time.
• The Misplaced Trooper: Perhaps this trooper didn’t want to originally join, but this oddball march has a dark, yet sometimes playful mood.  This piece is almost entirely composed of minor chords and spans over 4 octaves on the piano.
• Trek Across the Desert Planet: Country swing creates a laid back feel as you travel across the (original) desert planet. Ranging from tranquil to mysterious to bold, this 6/4 time piece explores different rhythm groupings and quartal chords in G minor.

What Is A Studio Licence?

When you purchase “The Misplaced Trooper” you get a studio-licence PDF of the piece.  This piece is sent digitally via an email receipt.  If you have a multi-teacher studio, please contact Rosemarie directly for additional licences.  Thanks!

A studio licence is a great way to stretch your studio repertoire budget.  Purchase music once and use it for years (even decades) with students you directly teach!  For online teachers, if you share the piece during online lessons, students must print immediately and not retain an electronic copy of the piece.

For more information on your studio licence, check out the Terms and Conditions page.

If you purchase a collection you will need a program to open zip files to access all pieces within the collection.

Should I print all pages for students?

Yes!  Each page is designed with students in mind.

• Cover art
• Description, tips for students to make it their own, terms of use
• Music
• Music options to further inspire your students

Students love a bit of cover art since it can help them get into the mood and story of a piece.   I’ve included ways to adapt or play with the music so students become part of the creative process.

The terms of use are there to educate students and their families about copyright law.  We know, but they may not realize what they are innocently doing may cause you to lose your studio licence.

Lastly, having other pieces at a similar level can keep students excited about what the next song in their musical journey can be!